By Jennifer La Lima
Superintendent Dominic Mucci said district protocol was followed. The
protocol stated that the building principal should initiate an investigation and
then involve those parties deemed necessary.
Principal Marilyn Hirschfield notified the facilities director, Christopher Milano, who then notified KeySpan. The energy company arrived in 10 to 15 minutes.
The entire building was inspected using meters, which detected no gas
leak. The school had a previously scheduled early dismissal of 11:30 a.m. for
professional development; students were dismissed at this time.
During the inspection, the energy company detected gas outside of the
school, underground, about five feet away from the school. The school's heat,
which uses gas-ignited oil burners, was shut off at this time. The entire length
of the piping was tested to its ending points: the cooking area and boiler
room. Plumbers replaced the piping.
According to Mucci, the pipes were replaced and tested again.
Certification and approval was given by the plumbing company and KeySpan to turn the heat back on.
The school called in the fire department to run an additional test.
The fire department also found the school to be clear of any possible gas
leak. In the administrators' communication with the fire department, Chief Stephen Sharkey asked that the department be called if any similar situations were to occur in the future.
School was closed on Wednesday to allow plumbers to finish any work, and
to give the building an opportunity to reheat. A phone chain was begun by the
PTA, and a message was posted on the Web site stating that Newbridge Road
School would be closed on this day.
At the meeting of the North Bellmore School District last Thursday, Mucci
stated that protocol would be changed to ensure that the fire department
would be notified immediately in such situations. Administrators put the new
policy into effect immediately on Thursday and Friday mornings when a teacher
complained of smelling gas.
On Thursday morning, students were evacuated to the back field of the
school. The fire department, KeySpan and hazardous-materials unit were called to
the school. Each gave clearance to administrators that a gas leak was not
detected.
Friday morning, at about 11 a.m., students were evacuated again owing to
a staff member's complaint of the smell of gas. The fire department and
KeySpan were both notified immediately, and both issued clearance to the school.
In a message posted on the North Bellmore School District Web site, Mucci
said, "I understand, given the events of the past several days, that there is
a heightened sense of awareness and sensitivity to any smells within the
building. I also understand that this sensitivity is to be expected. Please let me reassure you that we will continue to take appropriate actions whenever a
report is made to the building principal. Our primary concern is the safety and
welfare of our students and all who occupy the building."
Concerned parents attended Thursday's meeting of the board to voice their
concerns about future protocol and communication between the school and
parents. Newbridge parent Jim Trainor voiced his concern about communication during Tuesday's events. Trainor said, "The lack of communication was unacceptable; I couldn't get a clear answer from the principal's secretary. As a parent I had every right to know the safety of my child."
Assistant Superintendent Marilyn Johnson said secretaries did not
withhold information to hide information, but rather to ensure that a
miscommunication did not occur.
Protocol is specific from district to district, and is revisited
annually. The Board of Education met with the North Bellmore Fire Department to
revisit the protocol early and put changes into effect as soon as possible. Board President Mary Oporto said during the meeting, "Principals have been told that if they smell gas, they must call the fire department. Protocol will be
re-visited, and any additional suggestions made by the fire department will be
included in an updated protocol."
Comments about this story? JLaLima@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
