Students at Hudson’s Hope Elementary School were sent home Tuesday after a strong gas smell was reported in the school’s art room before classes began.
In a letter to parents and caregivers, Principal Derrek Beam said students were kept outside in the playground area while officials awaited assistance from FortisBC.
A technician was not expected to arrive for approximately an hour, prompting school officials to close the school for the day.
“Before school start-up this morning, a strong ‘gas smell’ was reported in the Art room. We are keeping students outside in the playground area,” said Beam .
Parents and caregivers were asked to report to the school’s outdoor Indigenous structure, where staff coordinated student pickups and ensured children were reunited safely with their families.
School officials said provisions were made in case students became cold or needed washroom access, with the school’s nearby “blue building” available if needed.
Beam said the student reunification process had been used successfully before and asked families for patience as staff worked through the closure.
“We have followed this procedure in the past, and normally students have been transitioned back to home within an hour,” Beam said. “Please be patient with us as we work to ensure our students are all accounted for and returned safely.”
The school said updates would be provided to families by email and through the school’s website as the situation progresses.
-M. Popove CJDC-TV News
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