Students At Long Island School To Be Relocated For Remainder Of Academic Year

A school district on Long Island said it will relocate students and staff at one of its middle schools for the remainder of the school year due to environmental health concerns.

Northport Middle School.
Photo Credit: *Google Maps*

Joe Lombardi

01/19/2020 9:57 a.m.

Northport Middle School students will be relocated this week after high levels of benzene were found on school grounds.

Eighth-grade students will be relocated to the high school, seventh-grade students to East Northport Middle School, and sixth-graders will relocate to elementary schools.

"In order to prepare for the transition, there will be no school for Northport Middle School students on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Wednesday, Jan. 22," Superintendent Robert Banzer said in a statement. "The relocation plan will be finalized and communicated to families before Thursday, Jan. 23."

Banzer said PWGC informed the district that soil samples from two different septic systems on the southern and eastern sides of Northport Middle School contained elevated levels of benzene that will require further remediation per the Suffolk County Department of Health Services

"PWGC is continuing its comprehensive investigation of environmental conditions at the school," Banzer said. "This includes extensive testing of soil, vapor, indoor air quality, a geophysical survey and testing of our school’s sanitary system and stormwater."

This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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