A Bay Area high school will remain closed until toxic substance control inspectors decide it’s safe for students to head back for the new school year, according to school district officials.
The shutdown of Kennedy High School, in Richmond, California, about 20 miles from San Francisco, came after vapor test results showed levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) on site, West Contra Costa Unified School District officials said.
“We recognize the urgency of this situation and that this is a concerning update as the start of the school year is rapidly approaching,” district superintendent Cheryl Cotton wrote in an email to the school community.
“While the Department of Toxic Substances Control has told WCCUSD that they believe that, based on the preliminary results available, there is no immediate risk to health and safety, further testing is needed in order to verify that it is safe for students and staff to be on campus,” she continued.
Tetrachloroethylene exposure can be harmful to the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. It can also intoxicate unborn children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that people exposed to tetrachloroethylene, may also be at a higher risk of getting certain types of cancer.
Cotton said the district decided to close down the school “out of an abundance of caution.”
As of late, no staff or students are allowed on Kennedy’s campus until additional testing is completed, and authorities say the school is safe, officials said.
Cotton said the district will conduct further testing of tetrachloroethylene levels, go ahead with mitigation, and contingency logistics plans for Kennedy students entering the new school year.
School officials are working with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the City of Richmond and the California Department of Education to get the situation under control.
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