(KRON) — School district officials said a high school in Richmond will be temporarily closed until toxic substance control inspectors determine it’s safe for students to return for the new school year.
The decision was announced Monday after vapor test results at Kennedy High School indicated levels of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) under the site, West Contra Costa Unified School District officials said.
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All Kennedy High School staff members, students, and families are not permitted to enter campus until additional testing is completed, and experts confirm that the school does not have health hazards, 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.
Cotton continued, “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.”
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Cotton said the district is planning for further testing of tetrachloroethylene levels, necessary mitigation, and contingency plans for how and where our Kennedy students will begin their 2026-2027 school year…