A tar-based roof repair material used at Hillsboro Primary School on Wednesday (Sept. 23) reportedly caused a noxious odor, resulting in people complaining about headaches and nausea that day and then early dismissal of students throughout the district today (Sept. 24), R-3 School District and Hillsboro Fire District officials report.
R-3 Superintendent Aaron Cornman said the noxious odor began Thursday afternoon in three classrooms at the Primary School, 101 Leon Hall Parkway, in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro Fire District assistant chief Brian Gaudet said no one was transported to medical facilities because of the incident.
Cornman said he did not know how many people at Hillsboro Primary experienced headaches and/or nausea, but 52 students left school Wednesday after their parents were notified about the situation and told they could pick up their children.
Today, R-3 officials released students early from classes in all school buildings due to “an intermittent air quality issue at the Primary,” they reported on the district website.
Gaudet said he and school district officials contacted representatives from the roofing material manufacturer, Tremco, who assured them the material never posed a serious health risk to anyone.
“There was no medical emergency,” Gaudet said. “It was basically a noxious odor from tar on the roof. We investigated the product and made sure nobody was in any danger.”
Cornman said manufacturer representatives are working on the problem.
Friday (Sept. 25) was already a scheduled Teacher Professional Development Day, so no classes are scheduled at the district until Monday (Sept. 28), and Cornman said he believes the manufacturer has taken steps that will resolve the problem by then.
Gaudet, who has a child enrolled at Hillsboro Primary, said he feels the school district has taken all the proper steps to address the situation.
“After talking to the manufacturer, we’re satisfied every precaution has been made,” he said. “The school district did everything it could to ensure the safety of the students.”