Students of Finch Elementary School returned to their own school on Friday morning after officials found the cause of a carbon monoxide leak. Classes has been held at Kennedy Middle School since Tuesday.
Monday's carbon monoxide leak at the school was evidently caused by human error, officials say. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis says two maintenance workers were working on the furnace last Friday, but forgot to reopen a valve.
Davis said that the technicians didn't come forward, even after more than 40 children were taken to the hospital.
"We hold our employees to the highest ethical standards and we intend to address these issues swiftly," Davis said.
The district's associate superintendent, Steve Smith, also says state officials determined the leak was caused by human error.
"The state boiler inspector has determined that the cause of the carbon monoxide event was caused by the failure of the maintenance technicians to reopen a valve leading to the heat exchanger," said Smith.
Shawna Daniels was shocked to hear that it was human error and not mechanical failure that exposed her daughter to deadly carbon monoxide gas.
"It's just a sad, sad thing to hear now that someone was responsible for this and that it just wasn't an accident," said Daniels.
District officials ordered a new boiler for the school and say it will be installed in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, they're taking measures to make sure that this will never happen at any school in the district.
"Carbon monoxide detectors have been installed at Finch Elementary School, and the district is currently developing a plan to install carbon monoxide detectors across the entire district," said Smith.
The fire marshal said the building at Finch has been temporarily met the city's fire codes for occupancy, but they'll return to the campus once the new boiler is installed to inspect it.
More coverage: Carbon monoxide leak at Atlanta schoolMore>>
Tuesday, December 4 2012 8:11 AM EST2012-12-04 13:11:02 GMT
Atlanta Public Schools officials say Finch Elementary will remain closed on Tuesday after a carbon monoxide scare sent dozens of students to the hospital.
Atlanta Public Schools officials say Finch Elementary will remain closed after a carbon monoxide scare sent dozens of students to the hospital. Classes for the school's students will be held Tuesday at Kennedy Middle School.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:41:39 GMT
Sudden rains caused flash flooding in parts of the metro Atlanta area on Monday.
Sudden rains caused flash flooding in parts of the metro Atlanta area on Monday. The Georgia Department of Transportation said that northbound lanes of Interstate 75 at Forest Parkway were closed after the roadway was flooded.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:36 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:36:57 GMT
Tyler Perry is donating $50,000 to help a good Samaritan left paralyzed from the waist down after risking his life to save a young girl swept away by a creek.
Tyler Perry is donating $50,000 to help a good Samaritan left paralyzed from the waist down after risking his life to save a young girl swept away by a creek.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:48:40 GMT
The committee overseeing the new Atlanta Falcons stadium plans chose a preliminary stadium design on Monday.Back in April, a tentative agreement for the Kansas City-based 360 Architecture was approved
The committee overseeing the new Atlanta Falcons stadium plans chose a preliminary stadium design on Monday.Back in April, a tentative agreement for the Kansas City-based 360 Architecture was approved
Monday, June 17 2013 10:52 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:52:57 GMT
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:30 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:30:40 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
A train derailed in one of the East River tunnels Monday afternoon, disrupting service on the Long Island Rail Road. Westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station is temporarily suspended.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:50 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:50:24 GMT
More than two dozen family members packed a court room to support the daughter who never gave up on finding her father's killer.
More than two dozen family members packed a court room to support the daughter who never gave up on finding her father's killer. For the first time, Joselyn Martinez came face to face with the man she believes took her dad away from her when she was just a little girl.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:26:45 GMT
A man aboard a United Airlines flight bound for Newark Liberty International Airport claimed his fellow passengers on the plane had been poisoned and was screaming about going to die.
A man aboard a United Airlines flight bound for Newark Liberty International Airport claimed his fellow passengers on the plane had been poisoned and was screaming about going to die.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:03 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:03:08 GMT
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tried to limit the size of soda consumption, ban smoking in parks, encourage bike riding and now there"s another possible plan on the table: mandate recycling of food waste.
West Side resident Matt Murphy has stored a pail of leftovers on his floor for the last two months. His building is part of the city's food-recycling pilot program. Mayor Bloomberg wants to expand the program citywide.
The body of one of three New Yorkers killed in an attack in Afghanistan is scheduled to arrive in his upstate hometown while the funeral of a second victim is being held in the Hudson Valley.
The body of one of three New Yorkers killed in an attack in Afghanistan has arrived in his upstate hometown as the funeral of a second victim was being held in the Hudson Valley.
Monday, June 17 2013 2:56 PM EDT2013-06-17 18:56:27 GMT
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and a shore community will receive more than $53 million in federal reimbursement for the cost of removing debris from waterways after Superstorm Sandy.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and a shore community will receive more than $53 million in federal reimbursement for the cost of removing debris from waterways after Superstorm Sandy.
New Jersey lawmakers are poised to take up a bill that would allow those who are in the country illegally to qualify for in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.
New Jersey lawmakers are poised to take up a bill that would allow those who are in the country illegally to qualify for in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.
