July 13, 2023 – Decatur Public Schools is now prohibiting any further access to the Dennis Lab School building after a complaint to the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
DPS61 received a notice from OSHA on Thursday, July 13, from the Illinois Department of Labor that an OSHA complaint had been filed on Thursday, July 6, 2023, regarding Dennis Lab Schools. The OSHA complaint alleges that the building is closed and yet employees are present coming in and out of the building, and that there is mold and asbestos present in the Dennis facilities.
As a result of this complaint, DPS says it will prohibit any further access to the Dennis Lab School buildings and will be closing off all access points to the buildings. Faculty had been allowed in certain parts of the school in order to collect contents and materials. DPS now says anything that has not been moved will have to remain in the facilities.
The notice is another setback after Decatur Public Schools announced they will likely push back the first day of school for Dennis students to around September 4th in order to prepare the modular units needed to house the students temporarily.
Click here to view the letter DPS received from the Illinois Department of Labor.
For all updates, visit the Future of Dennis Lab School webpage.
