Superintendent: ‘Small gas leak’ detected at Poulsbo Elementary, will be repaired Feb. 8 | Timeline
Published 10:33 am Monday, February 8, 2016
POULSBO — North Kitsap School District Superintendent Patty Page sent the following letter to parents and staff members on Feb. 7 regarding continued odors related to the school’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system.
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Good evening, Poulsbo Elementary families and staff,
We would like to provide an update on the odors reported by students, parents and staff on Friday. First, we want you to know that Poulsbo Elementary is safe for our staff and students. The safety of our staff and students continues to be our top priority.
The problem has been isolated to the HVAC. The exhaust pipes for the HVAC will be adjusted and “chimney” cap-type lid will be installed. This will prevent fumes from being blown back down the pipes. This work will be done this week and finished as quickly as possible. Belts will also be inspected during this time.
A small gas leak was detected on the rooftop in a different spot than previous repairs, and this repair will begin Monday and be completed as quickly as possible. The level of detection was a safe level.
In order to prevent odors from re-occurring while repairs are being made, the burners for the HVAC unit will be turned on in the very early AM to heat up the building, and turned off before students arrive. With temperatures being in the 50s this week, the building will maintain the heat without the unit running during the day.
CO2 and natural gas checks will be performed before the building is opened.
Additionally, a maintenance employee will remain at the school throughout the day to continue CO2 and natural gas checks.
We are exploring replacement options for the HVAC system, including getting bids on unit replacement costs. We will continue to look for the best course of action to have final resolution on these issues.
We will keep you updated on the progress of this. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. The well being of our staff, parents and students is extremely important.
Thank you,
Patty Page
Superintendent
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TIMELINE
GAS ODORS AT POULSBO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Sept. 16: A gas-like odor is reported as a contractor repairs the heat exchangers — a part of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, or HVAC, system — at Poulsbo Elementary School. Cascade Natural Gas investigates and reports finding no leaks.
Sept. 17: Cascade Natural Gas called again after teachers and students complain of headaches and nausea. The company detects a natural gas leak on the school roof and shuts the system off for repairs. Teachers take students outside for “a short period of time,” according to Superintendent Patty Page.
Sept. 22: Cascade Natural Gas called to the school because of a gas odor and detects a natural gas leak on the school roof, but detects no gas inside the building.
Sept. 25: A classroom reports a gas-like odor and students are moved to the art room until the odor can be investigated. Page said district maintenance employees checked for gas with a gas-detection device and found no gas inside the building.
Sept. 28: Parents notified by school of classroom evacuations on Sept. 17 and 25.
Oct. 2: Page emails parents and staff, “an HVAC company detected trace amounts of gas at the units on the roof, and they determined three of the valves have pin-sized holes. They agreed that replacing all valves and unions will eliminate the issue. The company also stated that there was never any chance of any unsafe situation occurring at any time.”
Oct. 5: Cascade Natural Gas returns to the school at the request of the repair crew to check their work. No gas leaks are detected but the exhaust ducts were found to have not been sealed properly and leaking exhaust.
Oct. 21: School board president Beth Worthington tells the North Kitsap Herald, “We finished the repairs the week before last, and we haven’t smelled anything since.”
Feb. 5: Two parents write the Herald about continued exhaust odors at the school.
“The odor was thick and compelling all the way out in the pick-up loop a couple days ago,” one parent wrote. “I was picking up my daughter early due to a headache and not feeling well. After she was home for a while she felt fine. The nurse told my wife that a few kids came in to the office with the same symptoms. The fire department was called in today to investigate. As the odors where again very prevalent. As news spread, I know there was a lot of kids picked up early.”
Another parent wrote, “My family just relocated to this area from Georgia less than a week ago, and I sought to enroll my daughter at the school, completely unaware of this backstory. The odor of gas at the school was so strong that we felt sick and dizzy. Staff simply told me that they were actively working on the problem. I found through googling after our experience that this has been a recurrent problem. This is a big public health issue and I feel like the community should be informed.”
