No Asbestos Found In LTHS Ceiling Collapse Debris

LOCKPORT, IL — LTHS Central students will most likely continue online learning into next week, after a classroom ceiling collapse, the District said in an update on Friday.

Superintendent Bob McBride said Central Campus is closed until the District can ensure that every classroom and space is safe for occupancy and school operations.

The ceiling in a third-floor classroom collapsed on Wednesday night, and was discovered Thursday. No one was injured in the incident.

"School leaders took immediate action to ensure student and staff safety and partner with local Fire Department officials," McBride said.

LTHS Central serves as a freshman center for the district, and students were dismissed early on Thursday and had an eLearning day on Friday. Class has remained in session at LTHS East campus for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

"We anticipate that online learning will continue to take place into next week as we take the time to inspect every aspect of Central Campus for safety," McBride said. "Our goal is to return to in-person learning as quickly as possible, and we hope that we can re-enter Central Campus as soon as possible."

McBride said the District is exploring what it would need to do to bring the freshman students into East Campus, if that is what is needed to be done to return to in-person instruction.

Five forensic architects were examining the campus on Friday, starting with the classrooms and spaces around Room 310, where the collapse occurred, McBride said. The debris from room 310 was tested for asbestos, and none was found.

"Forensic architects will continue working room by room into the weekend so that we can have a clear picture of the needs, safety, and future occupancy of Central Campus," McBride said.

The campus also does not have forced air heating, but operates on radiator heat and in-wall air conditioning units. Each classroom has a separate univent system to circulate fresh air. When the collapse occurred, McBride said that univent system was shut down, so no debris circulated outside of room 310.

• LTHS Board Discusses Future Of LTHS Central Campus

In recent months, the District and Board of Education have started to explore the future of LTHS Central campus. The scope of a possible renovation project at the school could be between $35 million and $95 million.

LTHS Central was first built in 1909, and additions were built in 1930 and 1953, according to the District website. It currently serves as the District's freshman center.