Northstar Elementary School in Knoxville is trying to beat the heat heading into the upcoming school year.

The school is an older building that does not have central AC and the staff is doing what they can to keep the building cool as students return to class today. They have portable air conditioners in classrooms, but with so many bodies in the school, it could make for a toasty first two days. 

The school will not be having hot lunch the first two days of school due to the heat the ovens give off, so students will be eating a deli sandwich lunch in their classrooms due to how hot the lunchroom gets.

Northstar Elementary Principal John Keitges mentioned that drinking plenty of water during the school day is important to fight off the heat the first couple days of school.

“I want to encourage everybody to bring water and then drink water and so we are definitely fine with having your water bottles in the classrooms. If not, some might keep it in their lockers and can go out and get a drink at any time. We have bottle filler stations at every one of our water fountains and so my first thing is to encourage kids and the adults to drink plenty of water these first couple days.”

Hear more from Keitges on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.