Chemical spill at Jacobs High School interrupts finals

A chemical spill at Jacobs High School in Algonquin interrupted final exams Thursday, but students were quickly shuttled to a different part of the building to complete their tests.

District 300 spokeswoman Allison Strupek said a teacher spilled formaldehyde in a hallway of the school at about 8:30 a.m. Fire officials say it was a bit more than half a liter.

Formaldehyde is not particularly dangerous, but it produces and extremely strong odor and can cause nausea, watery eyes and difficulty breathing in some people.

Because of the odor, about 300 students were taken from that classroom wing to another part of the high school to continue taking their final exams.

Two school employees were taken to the hospital for evaluation, according to Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Battalion Chief John Greene.

“The fire department was called to the scene as a precaution, but they said the students would be OK as long as they are not in the direct vicinity of the odor,” Strupek said.