How a gas leak closed Raytown schools for weeks

Some of the deep geothermal wells from the heating and cooling system at Raytown South High School and the Herndon Career Center allowed methane to accumulate below a parking lot. But repairs are underway, and students returned to class this week.

When Raytown South High School junior Tyler Houts found out he would be starting school remotely because methane gas had been discovered under a parking lot, he was happy to sleep in a little more.

But he quickly discovered the drawbacks.

Tyler, 16, plays two fall sports that often practice alongside each other. He’d focus on his main sport, soccer, and pop over to football practice for 20 minutes at a time when the team needed him most.

That became a lot harder when the football team had to practice at Grandview High School while soccer prac