CORAOPOLIS - Cleaning and disinfecting a school building closed for two weeks following an unexplained gastrointestinal outbreak will cost about $150,000 - and may require a school district to take out a loan.

The 800-student Cornell School District in Allegheny County closed March 23 after a number of children came down with a stomach illness. The building housed the entire school district, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Until classes resumed Wednesday, crews and a specially hired company spent much of their time trying to rid the building of whatever had sickened about 180 students and adults. Part of the cleanup included fogging the building with a disinfectant called Virkon, which is effective against 580 viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores.

Superintendent D.J. Johnson estimates the cleanup cost $150,000. The district may have to take out a loan unless it gets some reimbursement from its insurer or government sources. A preliminary budget shows the school district could run a $230,000 deficit next school year.