Carbon monoxide forces students out of McEver school
By JEFF GILL
The Times
A carbon monoxide leak at McEver Elementary School forced the evacuation Thursday morning of students and staff to nearby Free Chapel Worship Center.
Carbon monoxide detectors, which are located throughout the school, sound-ed an alarm before students had arrived, said Gordon Higgins, spokesman for the Hall County School System.
Once students arrived, they were taken first to the cafeteria and then to the playground, at the urging of Hall County Fire Services, which investigated the leak.
Students and staff then were bused to the church off McEver Road, after it became apparent that the investigation would take a couple of hours.
Associate Pastor Dwayne Welborn "helped to make the (church) available and opened the commons area, which could be set up (so school workers could) serve the children breakfast," Higgins said.
The school has 426 students and 55 staff members, including 32 teachers.
While at the church, students watched a movie on two giant screens in the commons area, Higgins said.
By 10 a.m., fire officials declared the school safe for students to return.
Fire officials did order the heating system to be shut down until a more thorough examination could be done. But principal Catherina Rosa said that school temperatures weren't a problem and the school has electric stoves for cooking.
Even Start and after-school instructional programs were canceled for the day as school system maintenance workers returned later to conduct further testing.
"Initial testing performed during the morning suggests the source of the carbon monoxide to be coming from the heating/air conditioning units in (the wing nearest the gym)," Higgins said.
Assistant Principal Drew Rogers said that his teachers and staff responded effectively to the evacuation and that McEver students appreciated the accommodations provided by Free Chapel.
"Everything went great," Rosa said. "It was really seamless."
Contact: jgill@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3408 |
