Classes canceled today at McHenry East

Classes have been canceled today in McHenry East High School because of a problem with the ceiling in one of the building's additions.

"The ceiling tiles had come loose," McHenry Community High School District 156 Superintendent Teresa Lane said. "We are keeping the school closed (today) so we can finish checking ... all the rooms we wanted to check to make sure the students are safe."

The high school was built in 1924, Lane said, but the problem occurred in an addition that was built in the 1940s.

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 that day, Lane said.

District officials plan to have McHenry East students back in class Friday. Classes at McHenry West are not affected.

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