Air testing planned at two Franklin schools

With the start of school days away, Franklin school officials are awaiting the results of air testing done outside of two elementary schools to decide what, if anything, needs to be done before students head back.

They are expecting results to be available next week, and then will determine what steps to take to make sure kids are safe when school is back in session.

School officials contracted with EnviroForensics, an environmental engineering firm, after concerns were raised by a group of parents about contamination near a former manufacturing facility. That facility is located near both Needham and Webb elementary schools.

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EnviroForensics began by researching past data from testing and monitoring in the area, and was able to get information from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management easily, said Jeff Sewell, Franklin schools director of operations. But information from the Environmental Protection Agency was not as easily available, since it went back decades, and would have taken significantly longer to get, Sewell said.

With the start of school quickly approaching, school officials decided they didn’t want to wait that long, and decided to have EnviroForensics do their own testing, Sewell said. Under their contract with the firm, both research and testing was covered under the maximum amount of $37,875, officials said.

The testing was done out of an abundance of caution, not because anything was found that showed contamination, Sewell said.

Testing was done this week near both schools.

The firm collected six samples of ambient air outside of both schools, near the former manufacturing plant, the air intakes and air inside the buildings. The firm also collected six samples of air from underground near the schools and near the former manufacturing plant, Sewell said.

The testing is looking for the same volatile organic compounds, TCE and PCE, that Edison Wetlands Association looked for in its testing when it came to Franklin in late June, he said.

Once the results are available, they will be shared with the public, Superintendent David Clendening said.

Based on what those tests find, school officials will decide if any changes need to be made before the start of school on Aug. 8, Clendening said.

“We want every kid to be safe and our staff members to be safe,” Clendening said.

Officials have a plan for the worst case scenario, such as having to close any schools, but they also know that the results may show that isn’t necessary. And they are prepared with other options as well that will still ensure the safety of staff and students, Sewell said.

“All parties want the same thing, we are all striving to make sure our kids are safe,” Clendening said.

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Franklin schools recently did air testing near two of its schools.

Where: The testing was done near Webb and Needham elementary schools, which are both located near the former Amphenol facility, where residents have raised concerns about contamination from former operations.

What: EnviroForensics, a company the school district hired, did ambient air testing and tested the air underground for certain volatile organic compounds, including PCE and TCE.

Why: School officials decided to do the testing after public records of past testing and monitoring were not immediately available from the EPA. Officials wanted all the data quickly to be prepared for the upcoming school year to begin.

When: The testing was done this week, and officials hope to have results next week.

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