Air Quality Concerns Close Fredericktown R-1 Schools Friday, November 1

Fredericktown, Mo. (KFMO) - Fredericktown R-1 School District has announced a closure for Friday, November 1, 2024, due to air quality concerns linked to a planned suppressive treatment at the nearby Critical Minerals Recovery site. Emergency management teams will be performing the treatment, which is expected to generate smoke, raising potential air quality risks.

"To clarify our decision to close school today, no one (including school administration) has said the air quality is bad at this time," says district officials. "We decided to close school today based on information about plans for further fire suppression efforts that may create additional smoke and wind shifts that could carry that smoke toward the school campuses. With the potential for air quality to worsen today, we decided to close out of an abundance of caution rather than react later should the air quality worsen."

In making the decision, district officials took into account the forecasted wind direction and advice from local emergency management agencies. The district says that student and staff safety is the highest priority.

The district will continue to work with local authorities and monitor air quality updates throughout the day.