Plainfield Academy to Reopen Thursday

Plainfield Academy academy will reopen as scheduled on Thursday after being closed due to environmental concerns on Wednesday, a spokesman for District 202 said.

• Related: Plainfield Academy Closed Wednesday

Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said the decision was made to close the campus as a precaution after teachers spotted a “green, powdery splotches bleeding through bulletin boards” in several classrooms on Tuesday afternoon.

Two environmental consulting firms were brought in Wednesday to inspect the building and check air quality, and have confirmed that the school is safe for students and staff, Hernandez said.

“They found small amounts of common mold in a five classrooms and a few areas throughout the building. The levels of mold in the air were slightly elevated, but below normal levels for this time of year,” he said in an email.

The building, 23930 W. Lockport St., was also cleaned and sterilized on Wednesday.

“The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority,” Hernandez said. ”We will continue to monitor the conditions at Plainfield Academy and keep our community informed of any changes as needed.”

Hernandez said there have been no health complaints or reports of illness at the campus.

The campus was the original home to Central Elementary School, which moved into a new building during the 2006-07 school year. It was converted into the district’s alternative school, which serves middle and high school students. The building was constructed in 1948 and renovated in the late 1990s, according to Hernandez.