McHenry High School East remains closed

McHenry High School East Campus is closed today as school district officials continue to check the structural integrity of the 60-year-old facility.

The problem at the school, located on Green Street in McHenry, is with part of the ceiling in one of the building's additions, which was built in the 1940s.

The main part of the school, built in 1924, is not affected.

School officials also canceled extracurricular activities and sports practices, including volleyball for freshman and sophomores, theater rehearsals and a meeting of the environmental club.

School District 156 Superintendent Teresa Lane said the ceiling tiles in the addition had come loose and structural engineers were combing through the facility to ensure the building is safe.

Ȣ₈¬Ã…“We are keeping the school closed (today) so we can finish checking,Ȣ₈¬Ã‚ˆť she said.

McHenry High School West Campus remains open.

School officials first noticed the problem Wednesday, but classes weren't really affected because students districtwide were only scheduled to be in school for three hours, Lane said.

District officials still plan to have McHenry East back open Friday.

Officials have been posting updates on the district's Web site, www.dist156.org.