Students at Rich East High School in Park Forest were sent home Thursday morning after the school lost electrical power due to a nearby construction accident.
School District 227 Supt. Griff Powell said the decision to cancel classes for about 1,250 students came as a precaution, even though power was restored before noon.
“They [Commonwealth Edison] could not guarantee the lights would be back on in any reasonable time, and when you can’t provide food or water, it’s an unsafe situation,” Powell said.
Power went out shortly before 8 a.m. when a backhoe driver, working on a village street project, hit a main electrical line near the school at 300 Sauk Trail, Powell said.
About 1,700 customers in Park Forest, Matteson and Richton Park were affected, but all had their power restored within hours.
Powell said officials plan to resume classes Friday. The lost school day is to be made up later.
