With power restored, classes will be back in session Wednesday in Dist. 79
Classes at the three Fremont Elementary District 79 school buildings near Mundelein were canceled Tuesday because of a power outage likely caused by a lightning strike, officials said.
The outage affected Fremont Elementary, Fremont Intermediate and Fremont Middle schools, all of which are in the same area on Fremont Center Road in Fremont Township.
The blackout also eliminated running water at the schools.
Extracurricular activities at the three schools were canceled, too.
Electricity service was restored late Tuesday afternoon, so classes will be held Wednesday, a District 79 spokesman said.
The early learning program at Mundelein's Lincoln Early Learning Center, which serves District 79 as well as Mundelein Elementary District 75 and Hawthorn District 73, wasn't affected. Lincoln is miles away.
Fremont officials initially announced a two-hour delay to the start of the school day on the District 79 Facebook page, but that changed to a cancellation about 8:30 a.m.
To make up the lost day, students and teachers likely will participate in remote, computer-based lessons on March 2, 2020 - a scheduled day off to recognize Casimir Pulaski Day. Approval is needed from the Illinois State Board of Education.
A lightning strike Monday afternoon at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock forced classes there to be canceled Tuesday, too. That strike damaged the school's chimney, roof and gas lines.
The phone system for all Wauconda Unit School District 118 campuses was disrupted Tuesday too, but the buildings had power and classes were held.