Facility Services staff spent five hours Monday checking the school, in cooperation with the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSHA). MOSHA will make its own report.
The staff of Wicomico Middle School and administrators from Central Office worked cooperatively with the Salisbury Fire Department Friday afternoon as the fire department's hazardous materials team investigated a report of a possible leak at the school.
The building was evacuated in an orderly fashion between about 1:30 and 1:40 p.m., with the 700 students and 100 staff members moving to prearranged areas around the Wicomico Middle property. The fire department's hazardous materials team checked throughout the school and found an old empty freon container on the third floor. The container was removed, and the building was reopened at 2:55 p.m. Students and staff were dismissed within minutes of the usual 3 p.m. dismissal time. The fire department's report on its findings at Wicomico Middle stated that the container was capped and removed, and that there were no alarms or readings of hazardous materials on any of the hazmat team's monitoring equipment.
Earlier in the day Friday, three staff members had reported feeling ill and left the school. The school system will continue to investigate the situation and evaluate the procedures used to respond to it.
May 9, 2011
9 comments:
So, did I read this correctly? They waited until MONDAY (when kids and staff go back) to inspect the property??? Heads should roll for that alone!
Yes you read that correctly! And today I understand that a staff member has been wheeled out to the emergency room for not feeling well & she works on the 3rd floor. Staff members still are not turning on the air conditioner because it makes them sick---PLEASE have a HVAC team go in and shut all windows & doors then measure the levels in the air---why hasnt this been done already???? Board of Ed needs to step up before someone gets terribly ill.....
board of ed response: build a new Wi Middle
just heard that 1 teacher passed out today & went to E.R. along w/another teacher--wonder what they found? CO levels??? PLEASE someone needs to check the HVAC--closed doors & windows, turn it on & then test levels (without students & staff in building). Someone is going to pass out & not wake up--what is wrong w/our Brd of Ed??? Joe--can you help on this please?
Wicomico County Board of Education facilities claims they have found no problems or hazards at Wicomico Middle School. That's their story, and they seem to be sticking to it. However, SOMETHING in that building made many people sick. I agree with the 3:44 post--please send in HVAC specialists to investigate further! Or, has it been fixed and the problem is being covered up? It doesn't make sense that so many people fell ill, but there was no cause of illness.
Initially, on Friday morning, only three staff members were taken to immediate care. Two were diagnosed with inhalation injury by an unknown source. However, most third floor (and several 2nd floor)staff members reported having dizziness, nausia, headaches and trouble breathing. Many had no idea that others were having similar symptons until the evacuation! Many felt better after standing outside for an hour and a half in the fresh air. However, several went to their doctors or the med center Friday night or Saturday.
To add to staff concern and frustration, there was virtually no communication from the administration to the staff about what was going on during the day on Friday. In fact, the staff was not debriefed on the situation until Monday afternoon. Parents were not officially notified of the situation until Monday evening.
There have been reports of many students who were feeling ill on Friday. The Med Center and ER were packed with Wi Middle students on Friday night. It's a shame that parents were kept completely in the dark by the BOE over the weekend.
This situation was handled poorly on so many levels. The health and safety of students and staff should have been the very FIRST priority. It took almost 4 hours from the initial report of staff illnesses before the evacuation order. And the BOE did not make the call to the Salisbury Fire Dept--they were notified from an unknown source. (THANK YOU, whoever you are!)
Parents, please make your concerns very well known to the Board of Education. That's the only way anything will be done!
Is the school nurse involved in this? She should be speaking up for the staff & students if she sees there is an issue. Why is the principal & vice-principal ignoring this? I know several students & many staff members there & am really concerned for all involved. I know several teachers who are still having symptoms & I hope the teacher that passed out is ok. Hope PRMC tested her CO levels. Lets close the school & get it tested with the hvac running---now before its to late. this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Today 5/11/11 another teacher has done to doctor not feeling well. Would the school & board of ed please get those teachers & students out of the building now before someone dies. I dont understand why this community is ignorning this serious "chemical exposure" that is happening right under our eyes--Where are the Wi Middle parents--do you care about your child? They are not safe!
I have a daughter at WMS and I have heard several different versions of what went on. Some of the accounts were from teachers and what they told me was totally different from what was released to the media. I also heard that there were some teachers who went home sick yesterday as well.
Interestly enough at the PTA meeting last night Mrs. Giddens did not even mention anything about the incident. Her main topic was the reorganizing of the school because it has not made AYP. I guess test scores are more importalt than our children's health.
Even if nothing was found why did they not call with a message about the incident until Monday evening? When my husband called the school on Monday morning the office person he talked to had no idea what was going on and could give no answers to his questions.
I would love to know the actual truth and not a spinned version!
There has been atleast one teacher each day that has been so sick that they were sent to the hospital or local care center to be checked out. There have also been several other teachers still suffering from the same symptoms since friday when the original incident occurred. It is ridiculous that no one can find anything. Something has got to be done and answers have got to be found!
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