Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 2, 2008 A STINK AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE

Ha, ha, ha, ha...

Admit it...gotcha with the headline!

Hey...when you are accused of being "Enquirer-like", you might as well use the techniques...the "teaser headline"...get you to buy the "rag". So what if the story inside is totally different from what YOU expected. We got your money!!!

As the saying goes...might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!

A Stink At Harrisburg School's Central Office

By: Rachel Gartner

SALINE COUNTY-- The smell was coming from the basement of the Harrisburg School District Central Office. At first, officials didn't think much of it. But further testing raised new concerns.

Last spring, folks say the office started to stink. After clearing carpets and bleaching floors, Superintendent Dennis Smith, asked for core samples from beneath the building. What the tests found now has workers packing up and moving out.

"We all want outta here. I'm actually working here today myself in this building and we're ready to move on."

After more than 30 years in this building its time to pack up and get out. Smith says, that's because, when experts drilled into the basement of the more than 100-year-old building, what they found gave them quite a shock.

"It came back that there were some heavy petroleum underneath the building, combining with probably some sewer leaks, we're not sure, to create an odd smell."

But that discovery lead to another; A by-product of heavy petroleum is benzine, a carcinogen.

"I mean, we've been in this building for 30 years and there were concerns about long-term health concerns. So we talked to our risk manager, our insurance company, and they all recommended we get the personnel out of here as quickly as possible."

Those personnel handle administration, bookkeeping, special education and technology for all four schools in the district. Smith has hired a group to help with the move, but technology coordinator, Cindy Black, says it's going to be a chore no matter what.

"As you can tell, down here in the basement, we have about 4 rooms that have to be cleared. Just the computers and computer parts alone is a lot of moving."

The 11 employees who work out of the Central office are relocating to the high school. As far as how long the stay will last; Smith is calling it full-time temporary. It's likely they'll have to stay at that location for a while, but local legislators are taking an interest. In fact, representative Brandon Phelps took a tour this morning. But a future facility is still undetermined.