3/5/20
Parents/Guardians,
I wanted to update you on the water issue that was previously communicated to you, and reassure you that we have been authorized by the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct school, as usual, starting tomorrow, Friday, March 6. This authorization to resume school was the result of proactive measures including: water testing to ensure the safety of our students, flushing our system throughout the night, and communication with and guidance from outside entities such as the Peoria County Health Department, Illinois American Water, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
After school dismissed on March 4th, we were notified of a potential cross-contamination issue between our internal water supply system and our Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. As part of a larger HVAC chiller replacement project, a contractor inadvertently created a backflow issue while flushing the HVAC system. We were concerned about this cross contamination, as the two systems should not mix.
Out of concern for the well-being and safety of our students and staff, we immediately took action. Further, we immediately contacted the aforementioned agencies to ensure that any possible concern was limited to the school, only, and not the greater water supply for the community.
We further conducted water testing in all three buildings, including fountains, faucets, and kitchens. The results of these tests indicated no concerns relative to the water supply. We also flushed our system throughout the night.
We apologize for the inconvenience in canceling school, today, but the safety and security of our children and staff is our priority. We look forward to resuming our normal schedule tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Roger Alvey
Superintendent