Richmond, California Kennedy High School Closed Over PCE Contamination

John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, was shut down after soil tests revealed the presence of tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a carcinogenic solvent formerly used in dry cleaning. The West Contra Costa Unified School District closed the campus out of an abundance of caution while the California Department of Toxic Substances Control conducts air‑quality testing to determine if the chemical has migrated indoors. The school, undergoing a modernization project, is one of six known PCE sites in Richmond and part of a broader citywide investigation of 115 toxic locations. Officials linked the contamination to a former dry‑cleaning operation on the school’s San Pablo Avenue site, which settled with the state for $100,800 after failing to remediate the site. State officials have said there is no immediate danger, but the school will remain closed until testing confirms safety for students and staff. Community members, parents, and students await further updates from a town‑hall meeting scheduled by district and city officials.