Gnat Infestation Shuts Down Lincoln Elementary Portable

As students at Glen Ellyn’s Lincoln Elementary headed back to school this week, there’s one classroom that they aren’t using—because over the summer, a horde of gnats were using it instead, the Suburban Life reports.

According to the paper, one of the school’s portable classrooms has instead played host to exterminators over the past week as the gnat-infested structure was fumigated with chemical pesticides; classes scheduled to be held in the building are being held in the main Lincoln building instead.

"We're going to hold off putting any kids or staff in there until we are 100 percent sure there are no insects or flying bugs in that facility," District 41 Superintendent Paul Gordon told the Daily Herald.

Most of the bugs have been killed, the paper said, but there is no clear schedule for when the about 50 displaced students can return to the classroom; Gordon told the paper he has considered keeping the portable closed for at least two weeks into the school year. 

Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Facilities and Operations Bob Ciserella told the District 41 board that there were no signs that the gnat infestation had spread any further than the portable, and that the chemicals would pose no health risks since sufficient time would be allowed before any kids will be let back in, the Suburban Life said. 

Read more at the Suburban Life and Daily Herald websites.