WASHINGTON — Some parents at Shirley Chisholm Elementary School in Southeast D.C. are worried about their kids’ safety after a series of evacuations prompted by a gas smell.
According to parents, the school has been evacuated four times in the last two weeks.
Rachel Bangura told WUSA9 her daughter’s safety was compromised.
“I think it should have been handled differently by DCPS,” Bangura said.
Several times over the last two weeks, parents have been notified about a gas smell at Shirley Chisholm Elementary School.
According to emails sent to parents, students were evacuated on May 15, then on May 16, again on the 28, and Bangura said again on Wednesday.
“They should have shut the school down and found out the issue. God forbid, the school says no smoking, but this could have been a more dangerous incident,” Bangura said.
The email said students walked to an offsite location where they were able to use the bathroom and cool off in the gym while Fire, EMS and Washington Gas inspected.
Bangura told WUSA9 her daughter wasn’t fed during the evacuation.
A letter sent to parents Wednesday morning from the district said at no time were any hazardous levels of gas detected in the school. However, during Wednesday’s pre arrival inspection of the boiler room, trace levels of gas were detected near the water heater.
The district said the water heater will be replaced today and out of an abundance of caution, all gas will be shut off for the rest of the week.
Bangura believes the gas leak should have been caught during the first inspection.
The district said the school will resume tomorrow, and electric water heaters will be in place for handwashing in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Students will also be provided cold meal options for breakfast through Friday.
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