By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Most Lewiston High School teachers darkened their classrooms Monday. They opened windows and doors. Placed fans in strategic spots.

But the old brick building’s second floor still reached nearly 90.

By noon, about a dozen students were sent home with heat-related headaches, stomachaches and other complaints. By 1 p.m., parents were taking even healthy teenagers home. Those who were left moved slowly, red-faced and sweating.

“It was hard to get any work done because it was so hot,” said Lewiston sophomore James Feely, one of the students who stayed the whole day.

Around the region, students and teachers desperately tried to stay cool as temperatures soared and humidity stayed high. In some schools, such as Lewiston High School, that meant open windows and fans. In others, it meant water stations and limited gym classes.

“We’re roasting,” said Nicole Goodspeed, principal of Farmington’s Cascade Brook School, where teachers flung open windows, turned on portable fans and gave students water breaks. “The problem is it’s so humid. It’s sticky.

In Maine, many public schools are old and made of brick. The buildings hold in the heat, especially on upper floors.

Few of Maine’s older schools have air conditioning. It’s becoming a more popular option, according to the Maine Department of Education. But often even new schools, such as Sabattus Central School, cool only the office, computer lab and other spaces that house technology.

“Today we wish we had done the whole school,” said Principal Beverly Coursey.

At Harrison Elementary School, a newer, two-story building, workers put in a school-wide heating and air-conditioning system this year. But it won’t be ready until next week.

So instead, Harrison teachers set up classroom fans and placed jugs of drinking water on the playground.

“Everyone will really appreciate (air conditioning) after today,” said Principal Patricia Bradbury.

At Lake Street Elementary School, a 78-year-old, two-story building in Auburn, students and teachers are looking forward to air conditioning, too.

One third-grade classroom reached 87 degrees Monday. Teacher Karla Downs let students take turns sitting in front of the only fan in the room.

“All the fans we have are going,” said Susan Trask, consulting teacher at Lake Street. “These schools were not built with summer in mind.”

A replacement for Lake Street is now being built on Park Avenue. Because voters agreed to pay more, that school will be fully air-conditioned.

“We even talked about it at our morning meeting. Won’t that be nice?'” said Trask.

Lake Street students won’t have to wait that long to get cool. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures should drop and humidity should break today. Wednesday is expected to be in the 60s.