Classes resumed this morning at Littleton’s Heritage High School, which closed Monday after a student became ill and a white powder was found in his locker.
Diane Leiker, spokeswoman for Littleton Public Schools, said that parents and students were informed of the decision to resume classes Monday evening through a rapid-calling system with a pre-recorded message.
Littleton school district officials said the Littleton Fire Department gave the “all clear” to resume classes.
After performing a chemical analysis on the “suspicious powder” in the student’s locker, it was determined that the powder was not dangerous, said Leiker.
Jay Ruoff, a division chief for the Littleton Fire Department, said late Monday that initial tests of the substance had been “inconclusive” and that the powder was sent to a laboratory for further testing.
Leiker said today that she had not been informed what the powder was.
A total of six people — two school employees and four students — were transported to a local hospital as a precaution.
The white powder was found in a gym bag, said the division chief.
The situation developed rapidly shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, when a student at the school exhibited signs of intoxication.
Paramedics were called to treat the sophomore. When school employees went to his locker, they discovered the white powder.
After hazmat crews from the fire department arrived and saw the powder, they requested that the 1,550 students be evacuated.
Ruoff said the two school employees complained of itching and burning eyes. They were decontaminated at the scene and then sent to the hospital.
The school was evacuated at about 1:45 p.m., after the students were notified over the public-address system.
Leiker said she had not been notified of the condition of the student who originally became ill but that other members of the faculty and staff are fine.
School officials praised the response of the Heritage students.
“Student health and safety is our first priority at Heritage, and we want to thank Heritage students for acting appropriately, and we want to thank the Littleton Fire Department for their quick response and support,” said a statement from the high school.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
