School's Out Forever

American Demolition Company began razing the old May Whitney Elementary School building in Lake Zurich on Tuesday of this week. The project is expected to be completed by mid-August. 

With the demolition already having taken a significant chunk out of the school, which first opened in 1949, only two of the red pillars remained at the main entrance as of July 20th.

For many former students and parents, memories of school picnics, annual Halloween parades, book fairs, and fundraisers will soon be all that remains, other than old photographs. For many, it was stunning news that the school would not be opening for the 2007-08 school year, and even more surprising when it was subsequently announced that the school would not be reopening at all.

In August, 2007, parents were initially informed that the school would be closing after it was discovered that the lower level was contaminated with Stachybotrys, a mold capable of producing toxic chemicals. Asbestos was also found in glue and tile in the building.

Jean Malek, director of communications and community relations for Community Unit School District 95, said the mold found in the school was abated at the time of the flooding that caused the mold.

Students were moved to the building they are in now because the older portion of May Whitney "had an ongoing problem with water intrusion that had been addressed many times and was never fully resolved due to the slope of the land behind the building."

"The decision to move was based on the fact that without being able to stop the incoming water, there would always be the potential for problems, such as mold," said Malek.

A live stream of the demolition can be viewed online on Community Unit School District 95's website at:  www.lz95.org.