Copyright WDIV ClickOnDetroit
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Pardee Elementary School in Dearborn Heights is back open today following a brief closure due to an outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease that affected more than 20 students within the last week. The school was closed on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, as a precautionary measure to allow for a thorough deep cleaning and sanitization of classrooms and common areas. The closure aimed to protect the health and safety of students and staff amid the highly contagious viral illness. Superintendent Mark Kleinhans addressed parents and guardians in a letter explaining the situation. He noted that hand-foot-and-mouth disease is common among infants and children and is characterized by fever, mouth sores, and a rash with blisters. Kleinhans told Local 4 that “the best course of action was to close the building and get it cleaned.” The Wayne County Health Department recommends good hand hygiene, proper sneezing techniques, and regular cleaning of toys and surfaces to help prevent the spread of the illness. Children with fever, draining sores that cannot be covered, or mouth sores that prevent saliva control should stay home from group settings.
