School District Clarifies Incident Involving Carbon Monoxide Levels and Safety Protocols
In response to recent inquiries concerning an incident at the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School High School Building and additional investigation, the district wishes to clarify the situation and address the concerns raised regarding carbon monoxide (CO) safety measures in place within our facilities.
Based on a preliminary investigation that used security camera footage, initial findings indicate that the recent death of a member of the night cleaning crew and the recent identification of elevated carbon monoxide levels in the school's kitchen area are unrelated. This conclusion is premised on a thorough review of security video and on-site investigations by the responding authorities. We await a full report, which will be made public upon receipt.
Further inquiries have raised concerns about the school's carbon monoxide detection capabilities, specifically in the cafeteria area. To clarify, the school district maintains strict compliance with all safety regulations, as confirmed by regular inspections conducted by the Syracuse City Fire Department. These inspections verify that our buildings have the necessary safety devices, including carbon monoxide detectors. The system had not been modified in any way after the last of these inspections.
However, after the recent incident, a detailed inspection revealed that a device in the cafeteria, previously thought to be a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, was actually just a smoke detector. In response, we have promptly initiated extensive re-inspections of all kitchen equipment and safety devices throughout our facilities to ensure they meet all safety standards and regulations. These thorough inspections are being carried out with the City’s Division of Code Enforcement and the School’s contractors.
The district is diligently working with its relevant contractors to promptly complete this review and implement any resulting recommendations. We are dedicated to maintaining transparency with our community and will continue to provide updates on our progress.
Yesterday, five adults were transported to the hospital for examination and monitoring. All of these individuals were released on the same day.
To ensure that our high school students continue their education during this time, we are conducting asynchronous online learning sessions on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff are paramount. We are committed to transparency and keeping the community informed. We will provide regular updates on our progress as we continue with the necessary safety checks.
