Two Franklin elementary schools are closed today after higher-than-recommended levels of contaminants were found following another round of environmental testing in the schools.
Multiple samples taken at Needham Elementary School and Webb Elementary School revealed levels of contaminants above the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s screening levels for volatile organic compounds.
The test results came back on Wednesday, and Superintendent David Clendening announced that students at Needham and Webb would not come into school today, instead having an e-learning day working from home.
Students at all other Franklin schools were to be in session as normal, Clendening said.
"This is just due to an overabundance of caution. I consulted with experts, our cabinet and school board to make the decision that those two schools would be out," he said.
Both Needham and Webb are near the former Amphenol facility in Franklin, where residents have raised concerns about contaminants such as volatile organic compounds PCE and TCE, which can have harmful health impacts.
Testing was conducted on March 2 by EnviroForensics, an Indianapolis-based environmental consulting and remediation company. This was the second round of tests done by the company for PCE and TCE, following samples taken last summer, Clendening said.
EnviroForensics took samples of vapor from below the concrete floors at both schools and sent them to a lab for analysis. Two out of 10 samples at Needham, and three of the seven samples taken at Webb, tested higher than the screening levels set by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
"We wanted to be overly cautious. The safety of our students and teachers and staff is the top priority," Clendening said.
Franklin schools are on spring break starting on Friday. Over the break, school officials will start the next round of sampling inside the buildings.
On March 28, the school district will send out further updates to the entire community about what the plan will be following spring break, Clendening said.
