SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Just days into the 2023-24 school year, about 30 districts in Connecticut sent students home early Wednesday due to the heat and humidity.

Some school districts have also announced early dismissals for Thursday.

Steven Madancy, the superintendent of Southington, told News 8 that the district’s eight elementary schools closed about two hours earlier than usual Wednesday because the buildings do not have air conditioning, meaning about 2,300 of the district’s 6,200 students had a shorter day.

Elementary schools in Southington will again dismiss early on Thursday.

School officials started monitoring temperatures Tuesday, knowing classrooms could be unpleasant.

“Knowing that the dew point and the heat index would only rise today and then again tomorrow, we knew that the classrooms would be even warmer,” Madancy said.

School leaders in Waterbury decided Wednesday to dismiss class early on Thursday.

Families welcomed the heat-related early dismissals.

“I’m actually happy,” Bibi Yacoob of Waterbury said. “I’ll take the kids out to the park, to the beach, do some fun stuff with them. I work at home, so I’m OK.”

Some are also glad school officials are conscious of when they announce their decision and its impact on families.

“They used to call snow days the night before, so if they decide on this early enough, it’s nice for parents to know ahead of time,” Patty Poulter, a grandparent in Waterbury, told News 8.

Click here for an updated list of early dismissals.