Category: West Newbury

WEST NEWBURY – The Pentucket Regional School District announces that there will be limited access to the Middle-High School campus in the coming weeks due to planned roadwork.

Crews will begin tearing up roads on campus on Friday, June 16. Visitors will have access to only the Middle-High School building. Anyone with business at the Middle High School is asked to enter the property via Farm Lane. Entry remains through the front doors. For departure, visitors will loop around the building to reconnect to Farm Lane.

Further, the site of the former Middle School will be closed off. There will be no public access to the track or tennis courts through the campus during construction.

Crews will then resurface and line all roads on campus.

Work was scheduled to begin following the final day of classes on Thursday, June 15. Work will be completed by Aug. 1, well before the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and the District thank the Pentucket community in advance for its patience during construction.

A map of the traffic pattern may be found here: PRSD – Site Logistics after 6.15.2023

WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew wishes to provide an update regarding air quality testing at Pentucket Regional Middle High School after reports of a strong odor in a science lab.

Vertex Companies of Norwood tested air quality in the building from Friday, May 5, through Monday, May 8. Test results show zero levels of any concerning substances, including hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Tests also detected naturally occurring carbon dioxide at levels well within state and federal guidelines.

Vertex inspected the air handling unit leading to the science lab. No breeches were observed.

Some wet and dirty air filters were removed from a rooftop air handler unit after the emergency response. The district’s HVAC contractor inspected the unit and performed maintenance to seal the unit from future water penetration.

Vertex is continuing to investigate the cause of the incident. The District expects to receive a final report in the coming days.

On May 1, Pentucket Middle High School students and staff were evacuated from the building because of an unknown odor in the science labs located on the third floor. Four students received medical attention at a local hospital. The state Department of Fire Services and state hazmat team also responded to assist with the investigation. The West Newbury Fire Department and West Newbury Inspectional Services continue to support the school district.

WEST NEWBURY – Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew wish to provide the following update about this morning’s evacuation of Pentucket Regional Middle High School.

A hazardous materials response team has completed an initial investigation, and has determined that the source of a strong odor in the middle school wing was a refrigerant leak from a rooftop HVAC unit. The unit was shut off, and the District’s licensed HVAC contractor will confirm a leak occurred and provide necessary repairs.

The Middle School wing has been vented to disperse the odor.

At about 9:42 a.m. on Monday, May 1, seventh-grade students in a science lab on the third floor of the middle school complained about a strange smell. No experiments were in progress and no chemicals were in use.

The complaints triggered a series of procedures and protocols, including a building evacuation and response by mutual aid from surrounding communities. The evacuation was coordinated by the West Newbury Police School Resource Officer.

Mutual aid responders included West Newbury Police, Boxford Fire, Georgetown Fire Ambulance, Groveland Police and Fire, Haverhill Fire, Merrimac Police and Fire, Newbury Fire Ambulance, Rowley Fire, West Newbury Fire, East Kingston, N.H., Fire, and Newton, N.H., Fire, as well as Action Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, and Trinity Ambulance.

Salisbury Fire provided station coverage.

A hazardous materials response team from the State Department of Fire Services responded, as well as Rehab Five.

Thirty-nine students were evaluated at the scene. Two students were taken by ambulance to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution. Two other students were brought to the hospital by their parents. All four students were treated for symptoms including nausea and throat irritation.

No faculty or staff member required medical attention.

Superintendent Bartholomew, High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, and Middle School Principal Terrence Conant canceled remaining classes. After-school activities scheduled for Monday night have been postponed.

Faculty and staff will be able to retrieve personal belongings once given authorization by first responders. Administration is working on a protocol to allow students access to their belongings.

The school district will continue to update parents and guardians as more information becomes available.

WEST NEWBURY – Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew report that Pentucket Regional Middle High School has been evacuated following reports of an odor.

Superintendent Bartholomew, High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, and Middle School Principal Terrence Conant have decided to cancel remaining classes, and are working to facilitate an orderly dismissal.

Superintendent Bartholomew has sent an email to Middle School and High School parents regarding dismissal procedures. Students who drove to school and have their car keys will be allowed to drive home. Students who evacuated the building without their keys will be allowed to take the bus.

After-school activities scheduled for Monday night have been canceled.

At about 9:41 a.m. on Monday, May 1, seventh-grade students in a science lab on the third floor of the middle school complained about a strange smell. No experiments were in progress and no chemicals were being used at the time.

The complaints triggered a series of procedures and protocols, including a building evacuation and a mutual aid emergency response from surrounding communities. The evacuation was coordinated by the West Newbury Police School Resource Officer.

Mutual aid responders included West Newbury Police, Groveland Police and Fire, Merrimac Fire, West Newbury Fire, as well as Action Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, and Georgetown Fire Ambulance.

Thirty-nine students were evaluated at the scene. One student was transported to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution, for symptoms including nausea.

The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. A Tier 1 hazardous materials response team is on scene. Their work is likely to take several hours.

The school district will continue to update parents and guardians as more information becomes available.