UPDATE
Covington Middle School students will switch to virtual learning until Feb. 10 so that a thorough investigation and assessment of potential safety at the school can continue, AHPS announced Wednesday.
UPDATE:
Covington Middle School will remain closed on Tuesday, Feb. 4 due to the ongoing gas leak investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Covington Middle School will remain closed on Monday following an evacuation last Friday after an odor was detected inside the building.
Over the weekend, state and regional teams investigated the source of the odor and discovered it was a natural gas oven in the kitchen that was releasing carbon monoxide, according to school officials. A ventilation system was not working properly.
In a letter to families and staff, Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Superintendent Kimberly K. Halterman addressed the situation, stating, “The January 31 incident clarified for us the unfortunate fact that, despite prior internal communications, carbon monoxide detectors had not been installed. Before any school is reopened tomorrow morning, we will have corrected this oversight which should permit us to diagnose these sorts of concerns far sooner in the future.”
The letter also assured parents that’s no indication of “a long-standing defect” with the oven.
The school division hopes to update parents Monday afternoon regarding whether the middle school will reopen on Tuesday.