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Cold Snap Forces Remote Day at Furness and Early Dismissals at Four Philadelphia Schools

District says crews are working to restore heat in aging buildings.

Overview

  • Furness High School shifted to remote learning Monday because of ongoing heating problems, according to a letter shared by the school.
  • Farrell Elementary, Greenberg Elementary, the U School, and Parkway Center City Middle College dismissed students early due to cold classrooms, the district said.
  • The district attributed the disruptions to sustained frigid temperatures and the condition of older facilities, and said operations staff and independent contractors are addressing repairs to resume full in-person days.
  • Teachers reported classroom readings as low as 49–50 degrees, and staff at Farrell described multiple days of inadequate heat, relocations to warmer spaces, and the use of personal heaters.
  • A Philadelphia Federation of Teachers statement criticized the return to in-person classes under cold conditions, pressing the district for safer, more consistent decisions.