News Summary
Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School will remain closed until at least fall break due to hazardous air quality from ongoing roof repairs. The school has been relocated to alternative campuses as air quality tests showed unsafe particulate levels. Parents have expressed frustration over communication regarding the timeline of the situation, which has raised concerns over their children’s safety and health. The district emphasizes regular updates on the roofing process while ensuring students and staff remain safe during this disruption.
Ahwatukee – Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School will remain closed until at least fall break due to hazardous air quality resulting from ongoing roof repairs. School officials announced the extension of the closure earlier this week, citing safety concerns for the students and staff at the campus.
The decision to halt in-person classes follows air quality testing that revealed levels of hazardous particulate matter 28 times higher than the acceptable standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, students from Kyrene de la Sierra have been temporarily relocated to either the Cerritos/Altadeña campus or Kyrene de la Esperanza. Officials have indicated that the Sierra community should be prepared to remain at alternative campuses through winter break unless the necessary repairs to the roof are completed sooner.
After a pause in the roofing work for air quality assessments, it was determined that follow-up tests would be conducted once the repairs are restarted and subsequently completed. The safety of the school environment has been emphasized by officials, who aim to prevent any further disruptions to the students’ learning experience.
At a recent Kyrene District Governing Board meeting, air quality concerns were a focal point, with parents expressing frustration regarding the district’s communication about the situation. The first complaint regarding a bad smell emanating from the school was logged on July 21, though district representatives stated they were unaware of the issue until a parent formally reported it days later. This timeline has led some parents to feel that the district has acted negligently, raising concerns about their children’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Preliminary air quality tests have indicated elevated levels of particulate matter, while further results aimed at identifying specific chemicals are anticipated in the near future. The district initiated the closure on August 4, originally planning for a week of online learning before relocating students to alternative schools on August 11. As the situation continues to develop, students were advised to prepare for this transition as the district expedites the roofing work involving asphalt and off-gassing, with a completion target set for October.
The Kyrene School District has committed to providing regular updates on the roof replacement process and its impact on school operations through their website. The health and safety of students and staff remain the district’s top priority as they navigate the challenges presented by the ongoing roofing project and associated air quality issues.
This situation highlights the importance of effective communication between school districts and the communities they serve, especially regarding health and safety matters. As the Kyrene de la Sierra community awaits further developments, officials work diligently to resolve the roofing issues and restore a safe learning environment for its students.
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Additional Resources
- ABC15
- Wikipedia: Air Quality
- AZ Family
- Google Search: Kyrene de la Sierra Closure
- Fox 10 Phoenix
- Google Scholar: Air Quality in Schools
- AZ Central
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Construction
- Ahwatukee News
- Google News: Kyrene de la Sierra
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