Helen Gorman Elementary (Submitted photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Sealant causes school to be evacuated

Nov 28, 2022 | 4:40 PM

Staff relocated students from Helen Gorman Elementary School in West Kelowna to nearby Glenrosa middle school today after a lingering odour disrupted classes.

“While operations staff confirmed that the air quality in the school was safe, workers are replacing all ventilation filters in the building out of an abundance of caution and students and staff did not return to their classrooms for the rest of the school day,” a news release from the School District 23 stated.

Staff provided learning opportunities for students in the gymnasium of Glenrosa Middle School and communicated with parents to coordinate safe alternative pickup arrangements.

“The odour was determined to be from a sealant being used in maintenance of the school’s foundation. This type of work is done regularly to ensure schools remain safe from environmental exposure,” the release said.

In proactive radon screening across the Central Okanagan in recent months, two areas of the school tested close to the Health Canada recommended threshold for mitigation of 200 Bq/m3 (The unit of measurement is the becquerel).

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Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the ground and is found in all buildings, including schools and homes. Health Canada recommends that mitigations be completed within two years where levels are found to be between 200 and 600 Bq/m3 .

Central Okanagan Public Schools has been proactive in testing radon levels at all school sites and takes immediate action to mitigate any levels found even slightly near the threshold for mitigation.

Screening results in the Central Okanagan indicated that nearly every school was below Health Canada’s recommended threshold for mitigation. In the parts of any schools that were found to be near that threshold, mitigations have either already been completed or are in progress, the district said.