Smell from roofing clears out 200 students from Schaumburg High

The foul aroma that sent 200 Schaumburg High School students home Thursday morning didn't exactly smell like teen spirit.

School officials are blaming roof work for the "tar-like" odor that forced about 200 students to retreat home. The school is undergoing renovations that are scheduled for completion in the fall.

Schaumburg Principal Tim Little said he didn't hear of any reports of students sent to hospitals. Additionally, about 120 students were sent to the school nurse, but they decided to brave it out and finish up the school day, Little added.

"The odor was stronger than anticipated," Little said.

The foul fumes wafted from the south side of the building into six to seven classrooms and into a new hall connecting the second and first floors that was built over winter break.

Roofers from A.J. Maggio Co. were doing work on an addition to the school and thought they had properly erected a temporary wall to prevent the tar fumes from finding their way into the old building, Little said. The wall just wasn't strong enough the repel the smell, Little said.

Officials praised the contractors and Schaumburg Fire Department. It was unclear if any students were sickened, but Little said there may have been some stomach trouble in the hallway.

"There may have been some reports of discomfort," Little said.

Classes were moved, and fans were brought in to dilute the smell, Petersen said. Little said classes were back to normal by noon Thursday, and some classes later convened in the previously affected rooms.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said he had heard nothing about the pungent incident from his department. However, as a father of a daughter who attends the high school, he got details after the 3 p.m. dismissal.

"My daughter told me it had something to do with the roofing work," Nebl said, speaking as a parent.

The Schaumburg Fire Department said it didn't receive an emergency call. Crews inspected the school and said proper ventilation was in place, school officials said. Today's classes would be unaffected, they added.