UPDATE: Mysterious Odor Hits Central Again, Students Call Parents

The VI Consortium has confirmed that the odor wafting through Central High School’s campus earlier today did not come from the school, but possibly from a nearby gas leak. The matter has been handled by the appropriate agencies.

As for the issue that caused an odor that sickened students and shuttered Central High last school year, it was resolved during the time the school was closed. A C.H.S. administrator said today that the school has been outfitted with sensors and detectors that would go off, in the event the noxious odor returned.

Earlier

With the understanding that the mysterious odor that had plagued Central High School for a large part of the last school year was thoroughly dealt with, students were happy to return to Central High’s campus just last Tuesday. But today, something all too familiar occurred–the noxious odor had returned, albeit temporarily.

The VI Consortium visited Central High today and spoke with students and one teacher about the situation as it unfolded.

According to the teacher, who requested anonymity because the matter was still being investigated, once the odor started circulating, students were brought to a room to wait until the scent subsided. Elsewhere on the school grounds, students said parents began arriving to pick up their children after receiving calls informing them of the odor.

The students we spoke to said after some time had passed, they were released to go back to their classrooms. However, the day was already disrupted and many students could be seen wandering the school grounds while others stood around in groups.

From March through June of the 2013-2014 school year, Central High closed its doors and students completed classes in a double-session arrangement at the Educational Complex because of an odor that had engulfed Central High that sickened students and staff. Returning to the school this year was a decision made by government officials, who said the problem had been taken care of during the time the school was closed.

At press time, it was still unknown whether the problem had returned indefinitely or if today’s occurrence was isolated. It is also the first time students had smelled the odor since returning to the campus on Sept. 2.