On Wednesday, November 15, we welcomed the Class of 2027 at Lincoln-Way North High School to resume in-person learning. Thank you to LTHS bus drivers, staff & Foundation Board members for decorating the hallways and all of the work to be able to re-open a vacant school building in one week. Please remind your freshmen student to dress appropriately for the weather as the arrival and dismissal protocols may require them to be outside slightly longer than they are used to. Watch this video as we document the move from Central to Lincoln-Way North and a recap of their week.

As we move forward with school operations at Lincoln-Way North, we will continue to communicate with you and update the Central Campus Updates web page as needed with important and helpful information. While freshmen students are temporarily at Lincoln-Way North, the question continues to stand for the community regarding the future of Central Campus. This week, we produced a video with Dr. Bob McBride, LTHS D205 Superintendent, to remind the community that while WJE has done ceiling inspections and openings to the 114-year-old building, we need your help. In this video, Dr. McBride will give you an inside look at the current status of the classrooms at Central Campus and share an update on the building. To watch the video, visit our YouTube Channel.  

Wear Green: We encourage staff and all students to wear green on Wednesday, November 15 for the first day of in-person learning for the Class of 2027 at Lincoln-Way North High School. 

Bell Schedule: The new and temporary bell schedule is for Central Campus students only. As of November 15, freshmen will no longer have a late start on Wednesdays. The shortened schedule allows freshmen to have in-person learning at Lincoln-Way North while avoiding disruption of the bell schedule for students at East Campus. Students at East Campus will continue to have a late start on Wednesdays as they have all year.

Traffic Flow on Wednesdays & Drop Offs: Please note that students, parents/guardians, and staff will experience a significant increase in traffic pattern/congestion at East Campus particularly on Wednesdays to allow for Freshman students who get dropped off by their parents. Freshman students who typically get dropped off by their parents/guardians at Central will have two options: 1. Freshman students can be dropped off at East Campus after 7:15 AM near the doors at the East Campus Auditorium on the Farrell Road side. Buses will begin to leave for Lincoln-Way North High School at approximately 7:35 AM. Freshmen will wait (a few minutes) for a shuttle bus to go directly from East Campus to Lincoln-Way North High School. If there is inclement weather, freshmen can wait inside the East Auditorium for a shuttle bus to arrive and depart to Lincoln-Way North. 2. Freshman students can also be dropped off at Lincoln-Way North High School Main Entrance as early as 8 AM and sandwich board signs will be available outside the campus for directions. Parents/Guardians can line up in the front of the Lincoln-Way North High School building to wait for their child at the end of the day in the same place they drop them off and students can be picked up at 2:00 PM. 

Freshman Walkers: Morning: Students who are walkers can continue to walk to Central Campus and enter at Door 3 on 12th Street. The doors will open at 7:20 AM and freshmen can wait in the Veterans Foyer for a shuttle bus to depart to Lincoln-Way North High School. The Central Campus shuttle bus will depart at approximately 7:30 AM to Lincoln-Way North High School. During dismissal time, freshman walkers will be the last round to be dismissed and wait for a shuttle bus at the Performing Arts Center doors at Lincoln-Way North. All other freshmen who didn't board at Central Campus will be dismissed at Lincoln-Way North and shuttled back to East and wait for their regular bus route to go home. Freshman students who are closest to East Campus can walk to East and get a shuttle bus to Lincoln-Way North High School. At the end of the day, they will be assigned a bus to East Campus. Once they arrive at East Campus, they can walk home. 

Freshman Bus Riders: Students who typically take the bus will continue to ride their regular bus routes. On Wednesdays, freshmen will not have a late start and they will follow their regular (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday) bus route schedule in the morning to allow them to start their day at Lincoln-Way North and follow the new bell schedule. 

Transportation: LTHS D205 bus drivers are committed to transporting freshmen students to Lincoln-Way North and the district will have 22 shuttle buses (daily) to provide transportation to freshmen families at no additional cost. The shuttle buses and bus drivers are not contracted outside of LTHS D205, they are current hires by employees of the district. If a parent/guardian has a question regarding transportation, the Transportation Department phone number is 815-588-8900.

Food Services: The District will be providing a limited number of cold meals (cold sandwiches or wraps) for students to purchase. In addition, cold meals will be provided for all students approved for free or reduced-priced meals. Otherwise, students are encouraged to plan on bringing a bagged lunch.

Central Campus Locker Items Retrieval: Student locker items will be given to freshman students at Lincoln-Way North.

Lockport Academy & CCC: The Lockport Academy will have815 three classrooms that will be moved to Lincoln-Way North with our staff and the district will provide transportation. The CCC will remain at the Lockport Township Building Community Center for in-person learning. -

General Questions: If parents/guardians have any general questions, contact the District Office at 815-588-8100.

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

While Veterans Day is on Saturday, November 11, Porters watched a video during Compass today which featured two LTHS Alumni who are veterans and shared information about an important event that the community should know about. I encourage you to watch the video by visiting, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9YfTjF8bY. On November 11, we honor the millions of American military men and women who have valiantly fought to build, improve, and defend our nation's freedom.  

As we continue to work and plan for the week ahead of November 13, we ask for your continued collaboration and patience as the Class of 2027 relocates to Lincoln-Way North High School on Wednesday, November 15. East Campus will have more traffic as 900+ freshmen be on campus each morning to transit to Lincolnway-North High School. We will continue to communicate with you and update the Central Campus Updates web page as needed with important and helpful information. Please take note of the following details:

Central Campus Building Updates:

• Intergovernmental Lease Agreement

  • On Thursday, November 9, the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education approved the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to allow LTHS the use of Lincoln-Way North while repairs are being made to Lockport Central Campus. On Monday, November 20, the IGA will be presented to the LTHS Board of Education for approval at the monthly Board of Education Meeting.  
    

• LTHS Emergency Board of Education Meeting Livestream 

  • Nearly 5,000 viewers have watched the livestream of the LTHS Board of Education Meeting that took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

• School Plans for Central Campus Students Only 

  • Monday, November, 13: Central Campus students will be eLearning.

  • Tuesday, November 14: Central Campus students will have no school. Set up day for Central staff members.

  • Wednesday, November 15: First day of in-person learning for Central Campus students at Lincoln-Way North at a regular bell schedule (no late start). More information will released next week.

• Transportation

  • We will provide bus transportation to our Central Campus students to and from Lincoln-Way North High School. Additional information will be provided as we continue with our planning. In the meantime, please watch this video of their bus route from Central Campus to Lincoln-Way North High School.

• Lunch Service

  • Quest will be preparing cold meals for Lincoln-Way North out of our Central cafeteria (sandwiches or wraps).  Next week, we will provide meals for all students approved for free or reduced-price meals. All other students should plan on bringing bagged lunches next week.  

• A Look Inside of Lincoln-Way North High School

  • We have produced this short video of a look inside Lincoln-Way North High School for Central Campus students and parents/guardians to see. While some images of the video are in the current status of workers cleaning and moving in furniture, we thought that it was important for students to see their temporary location for in-person learning.

• Traveling Students

  • Central Campus traveling students have the option to attend East Campus classes in-person and be stationed in the Maroon Room to complete their eLearning classes with their Central Campus teachers.

  • East Campus students who travel to Central for in-person classes should go to the Maroon Room to join their online Central classes.

• Lockport Academy & CCC

  • The Lockport Academy and CCC will meet at the Lockport Township offices on Farrell Road for in-person learning. A separate email was sent to families with specific information regarding this transition. 

Beyond Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, we have received help from Plainfield School District 202, East Aurora School District 131, and Joliet Junior College. The collaboration has been incredible and we thank those communities for the outpour of help. As we move forward with this direction of school operations, we will continue to communicate with you and update the Central Campus Updates web page as needed with important and helpful information. 

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

As some of you are aware, the LTHS Board of Education approved a resolution last night that I recommended to them which is aligned with School Operations to conduct in-person learning for Central Campus students at an alternative location at the Lincoln-Way North High School property. At this time, we want to provide you with the following update as we move forward with a temporary location for in-person learning for Central Campus students. 

LTHS Emergency Board of Education Meeting Updates
At the November 7 LTHS Emergency Board of Education Meeting, I presented to the Board a preliminary risk assessment plan completed by WJE, a firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists specializing in the investigation, testing, and design of building repairs. As noted on the plan, the assessment of the ceilings at Central Campus is still ongoing and it is focused on three point areas of Central Campus. The preliminary risk assessment plan is available on our website. 

In addition to the WJE preliminary risks assessment plan, several other documents are available on our website where we have published in the past related to Central Campus Structural Reports and Action Items.

• Pease Borst & Associates LLC Cost and Repairs - August 3, 2020 

• DLA Structural Assessment Central Campus - August 5, 2020

• Structural Analysis of Central Campus - September 21, 2020

• Memorandum of Understanding Prepare Bid Specifications for Structural Repairs Central - October 19, 2020

• Central Campus Maintenance Report - December 21, 2020

• Life Safety Repairs - Bid Recommendation - February 9, 2021

• Approval - Structural/Life Safety Repairs - Central Campus - February 22, 2021

A presentation of an overview of Central Campus including the Present and Future Situation was presented to the Board on November 7. If you would like to access the presentation it is available on our Central Campus Updates web page. If you would like to hear what was presented to the Board, the live stream of the Emergency Board of Education Meeting is available to the public. 

School Plans
Central Campus students will be eLearning until we can move into the Lincoln-Way North High School property and until further notice. Please note that we hope and plan for Central Campus students to start their in-person learning on Wednesday, November 15at Lincoln-Way North High School. Over the next few days, we are continuing to work with our Central Campus staff to allow them time to be able to relocate their classroom items to Lincoln-Way North High School and we will continue to work on a couple of schedule modules for Central Campus. While we allow time for our staff to relocate to Lincoln-Way North High School, we anticipate having one day of no instruction.

Lunch 
We are in a phase right now where we anticipate in having Central Campus students bring their own lunch. For our students who receive free and reduced lunch, they will continue to receive that service at Lincoln-Way North High School. 

Transportation
We will provide bus transportation to our Central Campus students to and from Lincoln-Way North High School. Additional information will be provided as we continue with our planning. 

Central Campus Student Lockers
Parents/Guardians can complete a form to have their student items retrieved from their locker. All items from the locker will be placed in a bag and parents will be communicated in the future for a pickup date and time. Please complete this form by Friday, November 10.

Communications & Updates 
As we move forward with this direction of school operations, we will share specifics and additional information with you on our Central Campus Updates web page. 

FAQs
A list of FAQs is available on the Central Campus Updates web page.

We appreciate your patience and trust in us as we continue to work on solutions for in-person learning with another neighboring community. As we move forward with this direction of school operations, we will share specifics and additional information with you as soon as we can. 

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

We want to provide you with an immediate update regarding tonight's LTHS Emergency Board of Education Meeting. This evening, the Board of Education approved a resolution that I recommended to the Board which is aligned on School Operations to conduct in-person learning for Central Campus students at an alternative location at the Lincoln-Way North High School property. This resolution is aligned to the Board of Education’s goal to resume in-person learning as soon as possible while ensuring that a thorough inspection is made of all spaces inside of Central Campus and appropriate repairs, remodeling, or remediation takes place to address any defects. Several Administrative leaders and I have examined remote learning options, learning options at East Campus for all students, and learning options at alternative locations in the community. As we move forward with this direction of school operations, we will share specifics and additional information with you as soon as we can. 

If Porter families and community members were not able to watch the livestream of tonight’s LTHS Emergency Board of Education Meeting, it is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51O9XHVdrQ8

We appreciate your patience and trust in us as we continue to work on solutions for in-person learning with another neighboring community. Your commitment is vital to our shared success. As we move forward with this direction of school operations, we will share specifics and additional information with you as soon as we can. 

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

We want to provide you with an update regarding the progress of the building assessment of Central Campus. We have many people working overtime to address the needs of our freshman students and the staff members who support them. At Central Campus, forensic architects are working classroom by classroom and space by space to cut holes in ceilings and assess the systems that support those plaster ceilings, particularly the ceilings in the 1909 and 1928 sections of the building. This is slow and methodical work, and we have made a promise not to return students and staff members to Central for school until we have a full understanding of the integrity of all classrooms. Also, the LTHS Board of Education has directed me to do everything possible to return students and staff members to in-person learning.

LTHS Board of Education Meeting: 

• On Tuesday, November 7 at 6:30 PM, the LTHS Board of Education will have an Emergency Board of Education meeting in the Porter Room at East Campus. The purpose of the meeting will focus on decisions we need to make as we navigate the challenges posed by facility usage at Central Campus and how those decisions will impact school operations. The meeting will also be publicly accessible via Livestream. To access the agenda & meeting, visit https://www.lths.org/o/lthsd/page/board-of-education-meetings.

Possibilities & Options: 

• We are looking at every option as we move forward and learn more from the forensic architects assessing Central. As you can imagine, we have brainstormed everything from extending remote learning, housing all students at East Campus with some type of modified schedule, or looking towards an alternative location that could accommodate our freshman class. We hope to recommend to the Board the option that best aligns with in-person learning given what we know at this time. At the same time, we are trying to get an estimate from architects and contractors on how long we can expect Central to be out of commission. 

Traveling Students:

• Central Campus traveling students have the option to attend East Campus classes in-person and be stationed in the Maroon Room to complete their eLearning classes with their Central Campus teachers.

• East Campus students who travel to Central for in-person classes should go to the Maroon Room to join their online Central classes.

Lockport Academy & CCC:

• The Lockport Academy and CCC will meet at the Lockport Township offices on Farrell Road for in-person learning. A separate email was sent to families with specific information regarding this transition.

We appreciate your patience and trust in us as we navigate this unique situation and your dedication to our students as we work on solutions for in-person learning. Your commitment is vital to our shared success. As we continue to receive assessment reports regarding Central Campus, we will be sharing that information with you as soon as we can. Please know that our doors, emails, and phones are open to any questions you might have.

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

As we navigate the challenges posed by facility usage at Central Campus, we want to provide you with an updated plan for learning continuity, particularly for the upcoming week of November 6, 2023. At this time, we anticipate three more days of eLearning for freshman students to ensure that forensic architects can make a thorough assessment of the building. As we receive more information, things can change so we appreciate your patience and flexibility. We will continue to communicate with you as we learn more over the weekend and into next week. Please take note of the following details:

Central Campus Building Assessment Updates: 

• Earlier today, we published the report on any Asbestos findings in the debris from Room 310. 

• We are reviewing and verifying our capacity numbers at East Campus if freshman students need to use East Campus to resume in-person learning.

• Architects have confirmed that this collapse is not a building structure issue but a sub-structure issue related to construction methods in some of our Central Campus classrooms.

Central Campus Only Students:

• Monday & Tuesday (November 6 and 7): We will continue to follow our regular full-day schedule with students meeting with their classes online through Google Meet.

• Wednesday (November 8): We will maintain the standard Wednesday schedule with classes occurring online through Google Meet and beginning at 9:45 AM.

• Central students will not report to Compass but should be back online for their 3rd-hour class.
  

Traveling Students:

• Central Campus traveling students have the option to attend East Campus classes in-person and be stationed in the Maroon Room to complete their eLearning classes with their Central Campus teachers.

• East Campus students who travel to Central for in-person classes should go to the Maroon Room to join their online Central classes.
  

Career Week: 

• We have postponed Career Week which was scheduled for next week, November 7 - November 10. We are looking at dates to reschedule and information will be released when it becomes available. 
  

Lockport Academy & CCC:

• The Lockport Academy and CCC will meet at the Lockport Township offices on Farrell Road for in-person learning. A separate email was sent to families with specific information regarding this transition. 

We appreciate your patience and trust in us as we navigate this unique situation and your dedication to our students as we work on solutions for in-person learning after November 8. Your commitment is vital to our shared success. As we continue to receive assessment reports regarding Central Campus, we will be sharing that information with you as soon as we can. Please know that our doors, emails, and phones are open to any and all questions you might have.

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

Dear Lockport Township High School District 205 Parents and Guardians,

At this time, I want to update you on the planning we are doing now for Central Campus students as we look ahead to next week. As many parents know, Central Campus is closed until we can properly ensure that every classroom and space is safe for occupancy and school operations. This closure is the result of a plaster ceiling collapse in Room 310 on the northwest corner, third floor of Lockport Central Campus on Wednesday night of November 1, 2023. The ceiling collapse was discovered in the morning on Thursday, November 2 and school leaders took immediate action to ensure student and staff safety and partner with local Fire Department officials. Also, I would like to share with you the progress we have made this morning, particularly one of the initial reports we have received about any possibility of asbestos in the debris found in Room 310.

Presently, freshman students are participating in an online learning day. We anticipate that online learning will continue to take place into next week as we take the time to inspect every aspect of Central Campus for safety. Our goal is to return to in-person learning as quickly as possible, and we hope that we can re-enter Central Campus as soon as possible. However, in the interim, we are exploring what we will need to do to bring our freshman students into instructional settings at East Campus if that, indeed, is an option we need to use to return freshman students to in-person instruction. Later today, we will send you a preliminary plan for what freshman students will be doing on Monday, November 6, Tuesday, November 7, and Wednesday, November 8 as well as what we anticipate for their learning beyond next Wednesday. 

Also, I want to share with you the work we are doing this morning at Central Campus. Presently, 5 forensic architects are moving room by room to inspect for safety. We are starting with the classrooms and spaces around Room 310. Also, we ordered an immediate inspection yesterday of the debris in Room 310 to test for asbestos. No asbestos was found in the debris, and I have attached this inspection report for review. Forensic architects will continue working room by room into the weekend so that we can have a clear picture of the needs, safety, and future occupancy of Central Campus.

One important note I would like to share about heating and cooling systems at Central Campus is that we operate on radiator heat and in-the-wall air conditioning units. We do not have forced air heating. Each classroom has a separate univent system to circulate fresh air. When the ceiling collapsed, that univent system shut down so no debris or particles were circulating outside of Room 310. As we receive more information and reports, we will share them with you. Also, I want to be clear that no alarm sounded and we do not have any such alarm system that would detect this type of ceiling collapse. When discovered, we took immediate action, and because the ceiling collapse was contained in Room 310 there was no detectable sign that it took place until it was discovered in the morning. When discovered, immediate action was taken to secure the area and third floor.

We will update our community regarding school operations for next week later this afternoon. In the meantime, we would invite you to click on this link which will take you to a dedicated webpage for updates on Central Campus.

As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority, and we will invest the necessary time to ensure that Central Campus is ready for students and staff to re-enter it.

Sincerely, 

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

This morning, a plaster ceiling in a third-floor classroom at Lockport Central Campus collapsed overnight. No students or staff members were present when the collapse occurred. There were no injuries. When staff members and building administrators became aware of this collapse, Lockport Township High School District 205 immediately began to take steps to ensure student and staff safety.

After an initial assessment of the situation with Homer Township and Lockport Township Fire Departments and the City of Lockport Building Inspector, we dismissed students from school at Central Campus out of an abundance of caution. This is only for students at Central Campus.

We are continuing to work with Fire Department officials, the City Building Inspector, and the Lockport Police Department. Forensic engineers and DLA Architects are on site to assess the total structure of every classroom and space in Lockport Central Campus. We are also working with the Regional Office of Education to determine when we can reoccupy the building. We will not do so until we are assured that every space is safe for students and staff. We will update our community on plans moving forward as soon as we have more information.

As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority.

Robert McBride, Ed.D
Superintendent, Lockport Township High School District 205

• Pease Borst & Associates LLC Cost and Repairs - August 3, 2020 

• DLA Structural Assessment Central Campus - August 5, 2020

• Structural Analysis of Central Campus - September 21, 2020

• Memorandum of Understanding Prepare Bid Specifications for Structural Repairs Central - October 19, 2020

• Central Campus Maintenance Report - December 21, 2020

• Life Safety Repairs - Bid Recommendation - February 9, 2021

• Approval - Structural/Life Safety Repairs - Central Campus - February 22, 2021

• Resolution Emergency Relocation -November 7, 2023

• Board Emergency Presentation - November 7, 2023

• WJE Preliminary Risk Assessment Plan- November 7, 2023 

The attached analytical data are the results from room 310 interior representative samples obtained from the referenced facility area as they pertain to the collapsed ceiling system.

No asbestos-containing materials were identified in the samples obtained from the interior of room 310 at the referenced site. Refer to the analytical report attached.