Football teams and high school bands in the Vicksburg Warren School District will practice on modified schedules this week, with plenty of breaks worked into the mix, due to expected record heat, said Superintendent Dr. James Price, who met with principals, coaches and band directors this morning.

Officials at Vicksburg Catholic School will follow the lead of the 9,200-student VWSD and take extra precautions, said athletic director Jim Taylor, and a spokesman for Porters Chapel Academy said later practice hours are on the way at the private school.

Today’s predicted high is 100 degrees, with a heat index reaching 102. Temperatures continue to rise Tuesday, with a forecast of 100, but a heat index of 105. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 104 degrees and a possible heat index between 110 and 114 degrees on Wednesday, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson said this morning.

Wednesday’s predicted high would break a record of 99 degrees recorded in 1954 and Price and Taylor said no outdoor activities will be allowed that day.

At PCA, head coach Randy Wright said football practices will be bumped back from the afternoon to 7 tonight and Tuesday and then another decision will be made. The school has no band.

Thursday’s expected 101 degree temperature will bring with it a possible 110 degree heat index. It is predicted to start cooling down Friday, when it is expected to be 99 degrees with a heat index between 105 and 107 degrees. The record high for temperatures in August is 106, recorded Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 in 2000.

For today and Tuesday, Vicksburg High School and Warren Central High School football teams will meet during normal practice times, which will be scaled down from 2 1/2 hours to two hour practices split into 15 minute increments with 10 minute breaks.

&#8220We will have limited practices with plenty of hydration,” Price said.

For St. Aloysius football, players will go out for their regularly scheduled 4:30 p.m. practices, with &#8220extra long breaks and extra precautions,” Taylor said. The longer breaks, though, will mean longer practices, he added.

&#8220It doesn’t mean everyone will be out there at the same time,” he said. &#8220We’re putting a real emphasis on this because it will be extra hot.”

On Friday, the two VWSD football teams will have the option to practice after 7:30 p.m., Price said. Junior high football teams will practice outside each day, except Wednesday, for 35 minutes, but will be limited to T-shirts, shorts and helmets. Practice will be limited to sixth period.

&#8220They will not have after-school practice,” Price said.

The two high school bands in the district will practice inside today, Wednesday and Friday. When they take to the field on Thursday, the two-hour practice will be split in half – with a rotation of 30 minutes inside and 30 minutes outside. Layered clothing for band students will be prohibited.

&#8220We’re looking at things that normally aren’t an issue,” Price said.

At St. Al, the band will spend the week practicing inside, Taylor said. Alterations are also being made for all other sports. The swim team will meet at 6:30 p.m. and the cross country team will mix up its schedule and meet some in the morning and some late in the afternoon.

&#8220It’s not just a football thing,” Taylor said. &#8220We’re all taking extra precautions.”

Elementary teachers in the district, as well as at St. Francis Xavier Elementary, will maintain a close watch at recess and PE hours. Price said it will be up to each school whether to go outside at all. If they do, time outside will be limited. Afternoon bus dismissals will be reversed to allow younger students to board the buses last. Staff during that time will also be increased at the elementary schools to help ensure 12 minute dismissals, which means no child will be on a bus for more than that time.

Price said limiting outdoor activities is the only way to make sure students are safe against the rising temperatures.

&#8220There’s a heightened awareness of what they’ve got to do to ensure that every child is safe,” Price said. &#8220I feel comfortable with this and feel this is a workable way to do this so the programs don’t suffer and the children are safe.”

Price put a ban on outdoor activities Friday, when temperatures reached 100 degrees. The only exception was nighttime practice for the two football teams. His decision came the day after two Warren Central High School band students were taken to River Region Medical Center for heat-related symptoms. Both students were released that night and returned to school on Friday. Similar bans have been upheld in school district’s across the state.

After the death of a Mount Olive football player, who collapsed and died Wednesday during an afternoon practice, a Grenada County Judge banned six north Mississippi counties from allowing outdoor activities from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Two days later, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the order. Instead, bans on outdoor activities will be left up to the individual districts, based on a motion by the Mississippi High School Activities Association.