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UPDATE: Friday classes at Johnson JHS canceled

Hazmat situation resulted in lockdown
Hazmat situation at Walter Johnson Jr. High
Marti Glaser
Hazmat situation at Walter Johnson Jr. High
Hazmat situation at Walter Johnson Jr. High
Hazmat situation at Walter Johnson Jr. High
Posted
and last updated
LATEST: Friday classes at Johnson Jr. High School have been canceled.
 
CCSD released the following statement to parents:
 
"Classes at Walter Johnson Junior High School will again be canceled tomorrow, Friday September 9, 2016.
 
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and your family, but our primary focus remains the safety of our students and staff.
 
The school is currently being cleaned and decontaminated. This is necessary to contain further exposure.
 
Regarding students who needed to leave their personal belongs at the school (shoes, back packs, etc.), please know that these items will remain at the school so they can be screened. A school staff member will be in contact with parents if personal belongings have been cleared to leave the school.
 
We appreciate the cooperation of students, parents and staff."
 
A meeting was being held Thursday night at Jacobsen Elementary School where parents were expressing their concerns and asking questions about what happened at Johnson Wednesday night.
 
UPDATE: Students at Johnson Jr. High School have been allowed to leave. They were released at approximately 4:45 a.m. Thursday.

ORIGINAL STORY

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Officials say mercury is the cause of the soft lockdown at a Las Vegas junior high school Wednesday.
 
Students were not allowed to leave or enter the building and hundreds were at the school late Wednesday night.
 
At least 6 or 7 students were exposed.
 
 
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue reported the hazmat situation around 11:40 a.m. at Walter Johnson Junior High at 7701 Ducharme Avenue, near Buffalo Drive and Alta Drive.
 
Classes were canceled for Thursday to clean up after the mercury contamination.
 
The latest statement at 11:54 p.m. Wednesday:
 

Dear Parents:

The Environmental Protection Agency is continuing the process of screening students, and has provided additional screening resources.

School staff and first responders continue to work with the EPA on-site.

Students are being allowed to eat.

Thank you for your patience. We know this has been a challenging day, and we are thankful for the cooperation of our students, staff, first responders and our community.


The statement at 8:11 p.m.
 

Dear Parents:

Students are continuing to be dismissed from Walter Johnson Middle School. We apologize for the slow process, but it is important that students be screened before they leave campus for their safety. Several hundred students are still in the school awaiting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) screening.

School staff are working closely with Environmental Protection Agency staff on-site to follow their procedures to ensure student and staff safety.

We understand the frustration of parents, but must insist that safety remain the top priority.

School Police are on-site and are assisting in reuniting parents and students.

We will continue to keep parents updated via Parent Link message and announcements at the school site made by School Police.  

Reminder: School has been canceled tomorrow, September 8, 2016.


 
The statement around 6:22 p.m.:
 

This is an update on the Johnson Middle School mercury contamination.

Students are currently being released. We apologize and acknowledge that this is a slow process and thank you for your patience.

Students and staff must be screened before they leave the campus.  

To expedite the process of clearing students to leave the school, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be collecting student and staff member's shoes and back packs. Students will then be screened and cleared before being dismissed.

The intent is to return students' belongings to them at a later time.

Classes at Walter Johnson Middle School will be canceled tomorrow, September 8, 2016.  The closing of the school tomorrow is precautionary to ensure that the school can be cleaned before students return.

We will provide additional information as soon as we have it.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Please know that safety is our top priority.

 
The statement around 4:37 p.m.:
 
"Johnson Middle School had a chemical element mercury contamination on campus today. We believe the mercury was brought onto campus by a student.
 
According to EPA guidelines, all students must be tested before they can go home.
 
Safety is our top priority and we want to make sure students are safe to leave the school.
 
No one is in immediate medical danger, the goal is to contain exposure.
 
Food will be provided to students via CCSD's food service department.
 
When your child has been cleared he or she will call you so that you can pick your student up. If you cannot provide transportation and your child normally rides the school bus, transportation will be provided via CCSD transportation.
 
Students will be released for pick up on the west side of the school.
 
We apologize for the inconvenience but need to keep our school and staff as safe as possible.
 
We will provide additional messaging as soon as we can."

 

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