West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew report that Pentucket Regional Middle High School has been evacuated following reports of an odor.
Superintendent Bartholomew, High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, and Middle School Principal Terrence Conant have decided to cancel remaining classes, and are working to facilitate an orderly dismissal.
Superintendent Bartholomew has sent an email to Middle School and High School parents regarding dismissal procedures. Students who drove to school and have their car keys will be allowed to drive home. Students who evacuated the building without their keys will be allowed to take the bus.
After-school activities scheduled for Monday night have been canceled.
At about 9:41 a.m. on Monday, May 1, seventh-grade students in a science lab on the third floor of the middle school complained about a strange smell. No experiments were in progress and no chemicals were being used at the time.
The complaints triggered a series of procedures and protocols, including a building evacuation and a mutual aid emergency response from surrounding communities. The evacuation was coordinated by the West Newbury Police School Resource Officer.
Mutual aid responders included West Newbury Police, Groveland Police and Fire, Merrimac Fire, West Newbury Fire, as well as Action Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, and Georgetown Fire Ambulance.
Thirty-nine students were evaluated at the scene. One student was transported to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution, for symptoms including nausea.
The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. A Tier 1 hazardous materials response team is on scene. Their work is likely to take several hours.
The school district will continue to update parents and guardians as more information becomes available.
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