3 schools to remain closed Friday after bacteria found

Daily Herald report

Three Elgin-area school buildings will remain closed again Friday after high levels of the bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease were found in schools' cooling systems.

Eastview Middle School in Bartlett, Larkin High School in Elgin, and the Educational Services Center, which holds the central office and Gifford Street High School programs, were evacuated Wednesday morning after abnormally high levels of Legionella bacteria were detected in the buildings' water cooling towers, said Tony Sanders, Elgin Area School District U-46 CEO.

All other U-46 facilities will remain open, U-46 officials said.

"We have gone above and beyond industry standards and guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff and students," Sanders said. "We have absolutely no evidence that anyone was exposed to anything harmful, but we will always err on the side of caution in the face of a risk to staff and students. We will keep these schools closed Friday while we take additional safety measures as discussed today with our water management consultant and state health officials."