Demand Immediate Heat-Safety and Emergency-Response Reforms in Fayette R-III School District

We, the undersigned parents, students, alumni, and concerned community members, are calling on the Fayette R-III School District and Board of Education to take immediate action following reported heat-related illnesses during outdoor student activities.

According to a parent’s public account, a Fayette student participating in the Homecoming parade became dizzy, shaky, confused, unsteady, and felt as though she might faint. The parent reports that the student was subsequently medically evaluated, had a heart rate of 122 beats per minute, and was diagnosed with heat exhaustion. The parent also reported that several other students and an adult experienced illness during the event.

According to the information provided regarding conditions during the event, the air temperature was approximately 94–96°F, with a heat index around 100–102°F.

Concerns were reportedly raised to Principal Rex Beltz and Superintendent Brent Doolin by staff before the event. These reports warrant a prompt and transparent review to establish what occurred, what information was available to school officials, what environmental measurements were taken, and how decisions concerning student participation were made.

MSHSAA Heat-Safety Guidance

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) as its recommended method for evaluating environmental heat stress. Its heat guidance expressly encompasses outdoor sports, marching band, spirit/cheer, and dance. MSHSAA recommends WBGT monitoring throughout the calendar year when the ambient temperature exceeds 80°F. 

MSHSAA’s published high-school WBGT activity guidelines include:

Below 82°F WBGT: Normal activities, with at least three separate three-minute rest breaks each hour.

82–86.9°F WBGT: Use discretion for intense or prolonged activity and provide at least three separate four-minute rest breaks each hour.
87–89.9°F WBGT: Maximum participation/practice time of two hours, with at least four separate four-minute rest breaks each hour.
90–92°F WBGT: Maximum participation/practice time of one hour, with 20 minutes of rest distributed throughout the hour; additional water breaks are called for in games, contests, and performances under unusual environmental conditions.
Above 92°F WBGT: No outdoor workouts/participation. Activities are to be delayed or canceled until a cooler WBGT is reached; air-conditioned indoor activity may be permitted. 

The reported 94–96°F air temperature and 100–102°F heat index are not WBGT measurements, and this petition does not represent them as such. In fact, MSHSAA specifically cautions against treating heat index and WBGT as interchangeable because heat index does not account for factors such as direct sunlight. MSHSAA recommends obtaining an on-site WBGT reading to guide activity planning and modification. 

Given the reported conditions, an important part of the district’s review should therefore be determining whether an on-site WBGT measurement was taken, what the reading was, when it was taken, whether additional readings were obtained as conditions changed, and what modifications were implemented in response.

We call upon the Fayette R-III Board of Education and administration to:

Conduct a formal review of the Homecoming parade incident and publicly report its findings, including what concerns were communicated to Principal Beltz and Superintendent Doolin, how those concerns were addressed, what environmental conditions were measured, what decisions were made, and what supervision, emergency-response, and parent-notification procedures were followed.

Determine and disclose whether WBGT readings were taken before and during the outdoor activity, what those readings were, who was responsible for monitoring them, and what heat-safety procedures were implemented based upon those measurements.

Adopt or strengthen a written district-wide heat-safety policy based upon objective environmental measurements, including WBGT, establishing clear requirements for modifying, postponing, relocating, or canceling outdoor student activities. Alternative participation options should be considered when appropriate, including floats, indoor performances, modified uniforms, or other reasonable alternatives.

Establish mandatory medical-response procedures for suspected heat illness. Students displaying dizziness, confusion, weakness, fainting, loss of coordination, or other concerning symptoms should receive prompt assessment and appropriate medical attention, with clear procedures governing when emergency medical services should be activated.

Require immediate parent or guardian notification when a student becomes significantly ill or must be removed from an activity. If an electronic message is unsuccessful, reasonable additional attempts—including telephone contact—should be made.

Ensure adequate access to water, electrolytes when appropriate, shade, cooling areas, and scheduled rest/hydration breaks during outdoor practices, performances, parades, athletic events, marching-band activities, and other school-sponsored outdoor activities.

Provide annual heat-illness recognition and emergency-response training for coaches, marching-band staff, activity sponsors, administrators, and other personnel responsible for supervising students outdoors.
Ensure appropriate emergency and cooling supplies are readily available during outdoor activities and that supervising personnel know where those supplies are located and how to use them.

Give staff clear authority to remove a student from participation or stop an activity when immediate safety concerns arise, without fear of retaliation for raising a good-faith student-safety concern.
Document environmental conditions during high-heat activities, including the time and location of WBGT measurements and any activity modifications, rest periods, delays, relocations, or cancellations resulting from those measurements.
Communicate the district’s heat-safety and emergency-response procedures publicly to students, parents, employees, and the Fayette community so everyone understands the protections in place before an emergency occurs.

This petition is not about eliminating Homecoming traditions, marching band, athletics, or other activities that students love.

It is about ensuring that those traditions are conducted with appropriate safeguards and that the health and safety of students remain the priority.

We ask the Fayette R-III Board of Education to review what occurred during this event, hear from the students, families, staff, and administrators involved, determine whether established heat-safety procedures were followed, and implement meaningful safeguards before another student is placed at risk. 

Demand that Principal Beltz and Superintendent Doolin give a formal statement to parents and staff. 

Our students deserve heat-safety procedures that protect every student, during every activity, every time.

Please sign this petition and ask the Fayette R-III School District to strengthen its heat-safety, environmental-monitoring, parent-notification, and emergency-response protections.

 

For the safety of our children.