Southside Schools just got a cooler

The Southside School District started the school year Aug. 30 with a cooling system for the first time in its 120-year history.

Last spring, classes were sometimes conducted outside or in the gym when the building temperatures climbed into the lower 80s, said Superintendent Paul Wieneke. The heating system was also remodeled.

"My challenge was getting it done in one summer," he said.

The district projects it will start the school year with 207 students in kindergarten through seventh grade. That would be an increase of 10 students from last school year.

The district starts the school year with...