Clayton County Schools on Monday canceled all outdoor activities for the week because of “red level” heat.

The south metro Atlanta district instructed schools to put the kibosh on “district-sanctioned outdoor events” because of National Weather Service forecasts that predict daily highs could reach into the mid-90s throughout the week, with a heat index as high as 105 degrees.

The district warned that thunderstorms and scattered showers also are forecast for the week.

The decision comes almost five years after a Clayton County student died after participating in outdoor athletic drills in extreme heat. Imani Bell, 16, collapsed and later died after running conditioning drills on stairs on Aug. 13, 2019. His family settled a lawsuit against the school district for $10 million in 2022.

Clayton leaders on Monday also encouraged parents and guardians to weigh the impact of the weather on personal outdoor activities. The district suggested parents dress their children for the weather and keep them hydrated.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Eight people were killed in a multivehicle crash Monday afternoon on I-85 in Jackson County. A van transporting cats was among the vehicles involved, a rescue group said. (Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters' Facebook post)

Credit: Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters

Featured

Thousands of "No Kings" protesters marched down Courtland Street from the Atlanta Civic Center to Liberty Plaza on Saturday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: Abbey Cutrer