During the first two months of school, Oak Park has seen unusual temperatures and exhausting heat waves. Temperatures of 115 F have been reported in the area which has brought up concerns of heat related illnesses. Students feel impacted by this heat, especially during midday.
“Lunches were hard and I didn’t want to go,” sophomore Meika Linville said.
Students already go through academic challenges on a day to day basis and a lunch in the beaming sun just doesn’t make school any easier.
The administration has added poles to supply shade in regards to heat advisories and waves which have hit southern California.
“They seem nice, the school really doesn’t have a lot of shade,” sophomore Adita Agina said.
Oak park offers shade through solar panels for lunch tables, but with a larger number of students this year not everyone can find a shady spot.
“We’re going to put some tables underneath so kids can spread out a bit and eat their lunch,” Vice Principal Jason Meskis said.
Oak Park’s rising temperatures during this school year has been rough for the atmosphere during school.
“It’s challenging, but on the days where it’s still just hot it’ll help them [students] with another area,” Meskis said.
Temperatures of up to 101 degrees are expected next week while the aid of the new shading area should supply a patch of relief for the Eagles.
