Heat closes school with no AC

CANTON, OH (WOIO) - High heat and humidity can make it dangerous just to be outside. But some Canton students can't even be inside at school right now because there is no air conditioning in the building.

Heritage Christian School in Canton is closed on Friday because of the high temperatures inside.

The school occupies the old Lincoln High School building on 6th Street SW.

It was built in the 1920s and you won't find much relief from the heat.

"It's hot. I can't do my work 'cause it's hot," said 11th grader Romaine Lawton.

In the past few days, temperatures have soared to the mid-90s in some classrooms, leaving students like Lawton sweating.

"Fans inside-- but it's still hot," he said.

We spoke with school officials over the phone. They say four or five students went home sick. Some were vomiting, others complained of headaches.

They can't say for sure whether the illnesses were heat-related.

"With this constant heat wave, and there's no relief in the evening to cool the building, it kind of feels like a brick oven," said Tana Watson, director of marketing and admissions at Heritage Christian School.

Watson says teachers tried their best.

There were even 11 fans in one classroom.

Watson says some teachers took students to the air conditioned computer lab while others took them outside for fresh air.

Then, they decided enough was enough.

"It wasn't productive time. It was just trying to last until 3:15, so we realized learning wasn't happening, it was just patiently waiting for the bell to ring," Watson said.

Many students may be cheering for a four-day weekend with Labor Day on Monday, but not Romaine Lawton.

"I got a scholarship to come to the school. So I want to have good grades and play basketball here," he said.

About 375 students, grades K-12, attend Heritage Christian School.

We're told there is no fix in sight because it would cost a lot of money to repair the power system that was built nearly 100 years ago.

Officials say window AC units cannot be powered by the current system.

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