Due to extreme heat and high winds, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will operate at minimum day schedules Wednesday and will allow parents to take their children out of school early.

Superintendent Ben Drati sent an email to parents Tuesday notifying them of the changes to the schedule for Wednesday and of the option to take their children out early if necessary.

“Due to extreme wind and heat, parents of Malibu [and Santa Monica] students may pick up students any time today,” Drati wrote in his email. “THIS IS OPTIONAL [original emphasis].”

His email continued: “Parents / caregivers need to check students out through the school office. All staff will still remain on campus, following further instructions from the site principal. Students may stay in their classrooms if parents are unable to pick them up, with regular after school pick up time or after school activities, such as Boys & Girls Club, still in effect.”

Drati wrote, “Students who leave early will be provided an excused absence for the part of the day missed. Principals will provide additional instructions at each Malibu site. We are in the process of creating plans for air conditioning installation throughout our campuses, however, this is a multi-year process. We are addressing this issue with a sense of urgency. We will be discussing contingency plans for weather-related issues like this to be proactive in the future.”

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