A Missouri elementary school is being closed after authorities find “unacceptable” levels of radioactive contamination. Here’s more on the matter.
Radioactive contamination in Missouri school
Jana Elementary School in Florissant, Missouri, and its kindergarten playground were found to have high levels of radioactive contamination. The radioactivity was stemming from waste dating back to the first atomic bomb from the 1940s. On Tuesday, in a meeting attended by 100 people, the Hazelwood School District Board of Education also announced the closing of the school for in-person classes. The school serves a little over 400 students.
“The administration will move forward with Jana Elementary converting to all virtual instruction for the remainder of the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Until details regarding redistricting current Jana Elementary students have been completed,” stated Betsy Rachel. Rachel is the president of the school district board. She added that the two Jana Elementary preschool classes will be taught at different buildings. However, other students will be assigned to different schools and can return to in-person classes.
More on the new changes
The Jana Elementary school is located near Coldwater Creek. However, it is the site contaminated with uranium resides. As per the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, uranium was used as a part of the Manhattan Project for developing an atomic bomb in the 1940s and 50s. “To the students, staff, and parents of the Jana school community, we also recognize that you are being faced with a situation not created by anyone in this room and over which you have no control and that this is causing a disruption to our student’s education and school climate,” added Rachel, apologizing for the situation.
The authorities found lead-210 in the kindergarten playground and it was over “22 times the expected background”. Additionally, the levels of lead-210 in the basketball court were “more than 12 times the expected background”. Moreover, the official statement reveals, the board “will be working with our legal counsel to communicate to the appropriate agencies responsible. The necessity to immediately clean up and remediate any hazardous waste at Jana Elementary and any other district sites”.
