Students at Maryville High School were quickly moved to safety following the detection of a gas leak on Wednesday, resulting in an early dismissal at 11 a.m., according to multiple reports. The leak, which occurred amidst ongoing construction at the school, prompted administrators to act swiftly, prioritizing student and staff safety. WVLT reported that parents were notified of the incident via email from the school district, ensuring them that "Out of an abundance of caution, students and staff were safely moved outside while emergency personnel assessed the situation."
The communication to parents detailed the dismissal procedures, stating that student drivers were to be dismissed to go home, and buses were to quickly pick up students around the time of dismissal. Parents intending to pick up their students were instructed to line up under the Lawrence Avenue canopy. "No one was injured and all students are safe," added Maria Greene, the Communications and Special Programs Coordinator for the district, in a statement obtained by WVLT.
Further details from WBIR indicated that Atmos Energy, the gas company, had been on the scene to repair the leak, with an expectation for the issue to be resolved within the day. Susan Richardson Williams, a representative for Maryville High School, said the school will hopefully resume on Thursday, WBIR reported. School Principal Heather Hilton was also expected to provide a further update to the parents later the same night.
School buses were contacted to begin picking students up at the designated dismissal time, further illustrating the school's comprehensive response to the situation. "Students will not be allowed to reenter the building," shared WATE, communicating the strict safety measures put in place. For parents arriving to pick up their children, administrators and teachers promised to assist and call students from the evacuation area, ensuring a controlled and orderly reunification with their caretakers.
While the event caused an unexpected interruption to the school day, the swift actions taken by Maryville High School officials and the immediate response by emergency crews ensured student safety remained at the forefront of this incident. As the school community awaits the principal's update, normalcy is anticipated to return following the thorough rectification of the gas leak by Atmos Energy.
