High temperatures in the low 90s and high 80s with heat indexes reaching more than 100 degrees this week is causing class to cut early.

School at Marshalltown High School was cut early on Tuesday as students were sent home at 1 p.m. That will be the schedule every day this week due to the temperature, the humidity and the lack of air conditioning in the facility.

Because of the shorter days, lunch will be served to the students from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Open campus lunch is only available for juniors and seniors.

There are also no early morning classes until Thursday, which will then start at 7:30 a.m.

Shipping delays have prolonged the long-awaited air conditioning installation project at Marshalltown High School, a solution which will help prevent the early release of students and staff on hot days. Certain key components, such as air handlers and a chiller, have been backed up in the supply chain process.

Supply chain delays are a problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is a dilemma facing construction projects all over the country. The delays will push the completion of the project to later this fall.

Surrounding school districts are also dealing with excessive heat in their buildings.

GMG Community School District also let out early on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., and East Marshall Community School District got out two hours early on Tuesday and Friday.

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Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611 or tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.