Skyline High School in Idaho Falls to Reopen Tuesday Following Air Quality Closure
Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, will return to a regular school day on Tuesday, April 28, after Idaho Falls School District 91 received updated guidance from an industrial hygienist indicating that air quality testing results do not support continued closure of the building.
The announcement came Monday afternoon in a news release from District 91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange, who said the district received additional information from its industrial hygienist at MarCom regarding an air quality evaluation conducted on April 8. Based on that guidance, the district determined it was appropriate to reopen Skyline for students and staff.
Air Quality Testing Results Guide Decision to Reopen
According to the district’s statement, the industrial hygienist advised that testing results do not support keeping Skyline High School closed at this time. Officials noted that while some testing results are still forthcoming, none of the outstanding results involve items that professionals have flagged as areas of concern.
District 91 said that documents from both Home Health Environmental and MarCom, along with all available test results, would be posted to the district’s website on Tuesday. The district encouraged families to monitor that webpage for ongoing testing updates as additional results become available.
The closure had been connected to ongoing work on the school’s air conditioning system. District facilities staff were scheduled to thoroughly clean the Skyline building Monday night ahead of students and staff returning Tuesday morning.
Closures related to building systems and air quality have affected other schools in the region in recent weeks as well. Hawthorne Middle School was closed earlier due to a plumbing issue, highlighting the maintenance challenges facing older school facilities across the area.
Families Given Flexibility on Return
District 91 officials acknowledged that some families may not feel comfortable sending their children back to the building immediately. The district confirmed that absences related to this situation will not count against students, though it noted that students who stay home will still be responsible for obtaining assignments from their teachers and keeping up with their coursework.
Superintendent LaOrange expressed appreciation for the cooperation of teachers, staff, and families throughout the disruption. “We are sincerely thankful for the flexibility and patience shown by the Skyline teachers, staff, and family community this past week,” LaOrange said in the news release. “We share the same concern for the safety of students and staff, and we are grateful for their partnership.”
LaOrange also acknowledged the work of D91 Maintenance, MarCom, Home Health Environmental, and other professionals involved in managing the situation. The district said updates will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.
The disruption at Skyline comes during a busy stretch for Idaho high school students and athletes. Earlier this month, Highland High School senior Nash Randall signed a letter of intent to play college baseball in Idaho, one of several spring milestones for student athletes across the Pocatello and Idaho Falls region.
What Comes Next
Skyline High School students and staff are expected to return for a full, regular school day on Tuesday, April 28. District 91 has committed to posting all available air quality testing documentation to its website and will continue updating families as outstanding test results are received. Families who choose to keep students home will not face attendance penalties, though students remain responsible for staying current on academic work. The district said it looks forward to welcoming students — known as the Grizzlies — back into the building.