LZHS Blackouts remain unexplained

Four blackouts disrupted the LZHS school day, and no one is certain of the cause.

The blackouts, which happened at the end of fifth period, the middle of sixth, the middle of seventh, and during passing period between seventh and eighth, have interrupted class and caused confusion. None of the faculty are aware of the cause, Ryan Rubenstein, assistant principal of facilities and student services, said.

Rubenstein said that the blackouts are affecting the surrounding community, not just the high school, and that it is likely the problem lies with ComEd, who supplies the school’s electricity. ComEd, however, is in “storm mode” and could not be reached for comment.

The school does have protocol for dealing with blackouts, though none were prolonged enough to merit worry.

“Generally when the lights go out, if they’re out for over a minute, our backup generator will kick on,” Rubenstein said. But if the lights stayed off, “we’d have to quickly decide with our district office how to proceed but it would really depend on whether or not the buses can get here quickly and all those different types of factors that come with dismissing kids.”