Hinsdale Students Back to School After Mold Closure

District’s Facilities Committee would be considering a long-term plan for HMS, including a recommended new roof

Students and staff at Hinsdale Middle School on Tuesday morning were preparing for their first day back to classes at the school after mold cleanup prompted a two-week closure.

HMS students missed school Jan. 17, 21 and 22 because of mold issues in the building. As cleanup work was being completed, students began a split day schedule Jan. 23 at Clarendon Hills Middle School. The split day schedule, which wrapped up Monday, had CHMS students attend in the morning and HMS students in the afternoon.

About 60 people showed up Monday at Hinsdale Middle School for an open house that offered a look around the building the night before classes were to resume.

Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 Superintendent Renee Schuster said Monday that HMS had been cleared for students and staff to return following a fire inspection along with inspections by the Regional Office of Education and architects from Healy, Bender & Associates.

Additionally, reports from Integrity Environmental Services on sampling of both air and surfaces conducted Jan. 31, Feb. 1, and Feb. 3 indicated the school is safe for occupancy, Schuster said.

Additional work at HMS is scheduled for the near future, as more baseboards need to be replaced, and additional painting must be completed. That work will be done in the evenings and on weekends.

Schuster said the district’s Facilities Committee would be considering a long-term plan for HMS, including a recommended new roof.

HMS Principal Ruben Pena also said he was happy about returning to his own building, although the split days at CHMS worked out well.

"Our kids came in and went right to work there," he said. "Overall, I think things went as well as could be expected."
 

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