Gas leaks addressed at Cruickshank, say school officials

Natural gas leaks at Merced’s Cruickshank Middle School have prompted the shifting of students and teachers to different classrooms but safety was never an issue, Greg Spicer, associate superintendent of administrative services for the Merced City School District, said Thursday.

Spicer said district maintenance crews, including three workers certified to work on heating and cooling systems, would be finishing the replacement of about 10 aging natural gas regulators, primarily in a wing for eighth-graders on the west side of the campus on Mercy Avenue.

Earlier this week the odor of natural gas was noticed in the regulators, which are outside of the classrooms. Maintenance workers determined that some of the regulators in in-ground bunkers, which are more than 20 years old, needed to be replaced. Newer upgraded units are being installed above ground with protective enclosures around them.

“We checked every classroom immediately and there wasn’t ever a safety issue,” Spicer said. “There was no need for evacuations and all rooms were safe. Most all classrooms are back up now.”

Some students were shifted to vacant classrooms, others went to the library, and in some instances portable heaters were brought in during the repair process. Heat was turned off in certain rooms at the school while the aging regulators were replaced.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. employees assisted maintenance crews in pinpointing natural gas leaks. Johnson Plumbing crews also helped in replacing the regulators, Spicer said. Parents were notified about the situation through the automated phone messaging system.

Spicer said the in-ground units are more exposed to the elements and deteriorate faster than more modern units.

RoseMary Parga Duran, district superintendent, said school personnel did everything right to keep students safe and the situation was handled very well. She said students were instructed to dress warmly.

This story was originally published January 8, 2015 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Gas leaks addressed at Cruickshank, say school officials."