SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield School District has done a lot of work to get Study Middle School ready for air conditioning, like putting in new plumbing and redoing the ceilings. But, as the new school year opens in the heat of the summer, this school, like about half the others in the district, doesn’t have air conditioning.

In order to get her classroom ready for opening day on Thursday, reading teacher Patty Pogue has done her math.

“It looks like it's 90,” she said on Wednesday. “It feels warm, yes.”

Add that to 30 students in her classroom, and that means she needs six fans!

“I have three fans in the window and another oscillating fan and three more box fans so, with movement of air, it's tolerable. It's not ideal conditions but we'll make it,” said Pogue.

If tolerable describes her first-floor classroom, imagine the mercury upstairs. That’s where seventh grade life sciences teacher Duane Lindsey teaches.

“It's about 10 degrees cooler downstairs,” said Lindsey.

Even with all the fans that Lindsey has going, he knows it may not be enough.

“We'll get it pretty cool in here or fairly cool,” he said. “Sometimes, if it gets really hot, they like to lay their heads down. I allow them to get up, stretch and get a drink of water.”

Next year, teachers won't have to work water breaks into their lesson plans. Study should have central air by then.

“We'll keep our fingers crossed and hope it will happen. We've had new ceilings up and new electrical, so we'll hope for the best next year.”

For Thursday, teachers ask students to dress in lightweight, light colored clothing and also pack a water bottle. Teachers say they will let kids have these in class and will encourage them to fill up and drink up all day.