UPDATE: Aug. 23, 3:45 p.m.
A post on the district's Facebook page says additional tests came back negative for "any hazardous air quality issues." According to the post, officials will conduct re-testing Sunday morning and the campus will remain closed until those tests have been completed.
Original story:
Students and staff at Eastern Greene Schools aren’t in class today and are advised to avoid Eastern Greene Middle School after a “hazardous materials incident” yesterday. The district isn’t releasing many specifics about the incident.
A post on the district’s Facebook page says officials discovered an air quality issue confined to a small area in one room, but tests of the site haven’t revealed any cause for alarm.
The post says the incident was not a gas leak, but did not elaborate on the situation. The school district is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Greene County Emergency Management Agency and the Greene County Health Department to conduct additional tests and determine the cause of the incident.
Eastern Greene Middle School Principal Patrick Ault read a statement from the district Friday afternoon and says his priority is safety.
"We followed the directions given by the State Fire Marshall," he says. "We will advise families when we have more information."
A news release from Center-Jackson Fire Territory says five people were taken to the hospital after complaints of minor upper airway irritation yesterday, but have all been released.
The Greene County Emergency Management Agency is telling people to stay away from the area and says the school will remain closed until tests have confirmed it is safe to return.
