Classes resumed today at the Port Arthur and Orange campuses of Tekoa Academy charter school.

The schools were closed Thursday and given a precautionary cleaning and sanitized in the wake of local coronavirus concerns.

Paula Richardson, Ph.D, who is the founder and CEO of Tekoa, wanted to let the public know the one-day closure was a preventative measure after being alerted to a newspaper article about a teacher at West Orange Cove Consolidated Independent School District who may have been exposed to the virus.

After investigation the school district learned there was no coronavirus threat but, out of an abundance of caution and knowing some Tekoa students had siblings in that school district, Richardson and staff made the decision to close Thursday and clean.

Walls, desks, tables computers — everything was cleaned and wiped down, she said.

Information about the one-day closure to clean was sent home to families and parents of students and is also available at tekoacharterschool.org.

Richardson said this isn’t the first time officials have sanitized the school, saying this is something done periodically and while students are in class and without harmful chemicals.

Her message? Don’t panic. Take precautionary measures.

The extra cleaning could also help combat the spread of germs as there have been a large number of students in the area with the flu, Richardson said.