Crystal Lake school to reopen Wednesday after gas leak caused shutdown

Husmann Elementary School in Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 closed Tuesday because of an apparent gas leak.

But officials announced Tuesday evening that classes will resume Wednesday.

The school had put out a message on its Facebook page about 8 p.m. Monday saying the school would be shut Tuesday “due to ongoing utility repairs” and district officials did not elaborate in response to Northwest Herald inquiries.

But later Tuesday afternoon, District 47 shared a letter to parents from Superintendent Kathy Hinz saying a natural gas smell was reported outside the building Monday night.

Nicor Gas and the district’s operations team responded to school at 131 W. Paddock St. to assess the situation and monitor for gas levels in the air while the utility company turned off the gas supply. An abandoned gas line was discovered on the property and was being capped off Tuesday, Hinz wrote.

“Our operations team problem-solved through the night and into the morning and successfully identified and isolated the issue,” Hinz wrote. “... Additionally, we are ensuring that any residual gas that might be underground as a result of the abandoned pipe is being released.”

Hinz added: “Our goal is to confirm zero gas levels before staff and students return.”

The schools chief followed up with a message at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday saying classes will resume Wednesday.

“Our operations team has successfully capped the abandoned gas line, and Nicor has confirmed zero gas levels in the air,” Hinz wrote.

She thanked the community for its patience and understanding and noted that Tuesday’s cancellation of classes will not affect the last day of school for the year in the spring.