Students at Blanche Sims Elementary took an unexpected field trip to Oakview Middle School last Wednesday after some parents and staff smelled a strange gas-like odor in the school.
Consumer’s Energy responded to the scene with detectors and checked gas line pressures, but their analysis showed nothing was wrong.
Blanche Sims Principal Eric Whitney said windy conditions were likely the culprit, blowing air from a vent in the back of the building back inside.
‘They think it was just a fluke kind of thing,? Whitney said.
Students were back at their home school by early afternoon, but Whitney said the experience was actually a positive one, with students spending just over three hours at Oakview.
‘It’s no small feat to move 400 kids,? he said. ‘But it was very well executed.?
‘Oakview and their staff was phenomonal at accomodating us,? he added.
Whitney said the students boarded about 10 different busses around 9:30 a.m. and headed to Oakview strictly as a ‘precautionary measure.?
‘It’s been sitting on the shelf and we’ve never had to execute it,? he said of the plan. ‘But it’s nice to know that it works.?
Oakview is considered Blanche Sims? ‘sister school,? according to district guidelines.
Blanche Sims teachers utilized both of the Oakview gymnasiums and tried to go about business as usual.
‘Every single one of those teachers had their students engaged and there was still learning going on,? said Jillynn Keppler, the district’s Executive Director of Business Services, who witnessed the situation firsthand.
Lake Orion Community Schools? Superintendent Christine Lehman and Whitney both said the lunchtime hour was most hectic.
‘Oakview had 400 additional lunches that they served,? Lehman noted.
‘They were really excited to eat in the cafeteria,? Whitney added of his students. ‘That was a big deal.?
Lehman said the students at Blanche Sims also befriended Homer, the mascot dog at Oakview.
They returned to Blanche Sims around 12:45 p.m., according to Whitney.
‘The important thing is that all the Blanche Sims kids got back in time for their Valentine’s Day parties,? Lehman pointed out.