By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Thanks to the oppressive heat expected today, the city’s public school students will be released at 11:30 a.m., according to Schools Superintendent Hans Dellith.

In addition, the Salvation Army  at 102 High St. will be open today as an air-conditioned refuge for anyone looking to beat the heat.
The students will be served lunch before dismissal, and regular bus transportation will be provided, according to school officials.
With temperatures that suddenly soared into the mid-90s, Dellith made the decision to dismiss students early on Monday as well. All of the city’s schools were closed at 1 p.m. and students were provided with their regular bus transportation.
According to the School Department, these two days do not have to be made up, as the students will be given credit for the half day of classes they attended.
With the exception of high school seniors,  the last day of school for all of the city’s public school students is June 17.
School Committee Chairman Gordon Gould said on Monday afternoon that he supported Dellith’s decision, because the majority of the city’s schools are not air conditioned. He said it is the superintendent’s call, and Dellith thought the heat was making it too uncomfortable in the classrooms for the students and the teachers.
In neighboring Central Falls, there was no similar plan to dismiss students early as of Monday afternoon, according to a spokeswoman in the School Superintendent’s office.
To provide relief from the sweltering temperatures, the Salvation Army will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beverages and a light lunch will be available in the section of the building that normally houses the soup kitchen.
Frank Sullivan, director of public relations for the Salvation Army’s Pawtucket Corps, said, “We know a lot of people don’t have air conditioning, and our building does. We are just trying to help out.”
For more information, call 723-9533.