Rolling Meadows officials insist gym floor is safe, will resume activities
Officials at Rolling Meadows High School said Wednesday that odors coming from its new gym floor are not dangerous, and that scheduled activities in the gymnasium will resume Thursday.
The school worked Wednesday to increase ventilation in the gym, a day after a varsity boys basketball game between Barrington and Rolling Meadows was canceled because of the odor.
Barrington players complained of the smell, saying they felt lightheaded and dizzy, according to their head coach, Bryan Tucker. The boys sophomore game was played as scheduled before the varsity contest was to begin.
Venetia Miles, director of community relations for Northwest Suburban High School District 214, said the odor came from a sealant used on the new floor. It is the same sealant that has been used at other high schools in the district for decades, with no complaints, she added.
“We understand that everyone's sensitivity levels are different,” she said.
To help clear the odor faster, the school will be increasing ventilation with ceiling and floor fans, as well as by opening doors.
“The weather is really helping us out since it's supposed to warm up this week,” she said.
The gym floor was redone over winter break and this was the first week students are using it, but no Rolling Meadows students have complained about the smell, Miles added.
Gym classes at Rolling Meadows were canceled on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, but they and all other scheduled activities for the rest of the week and weekend will go on as planned.
Officials from Rolling Meadows and Barrington will meet to try to reschedule the canceled game, but a new date has not been set yet, Miles said.