News Summary
Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School in Ahwatukee remains closed due to hazardous air quality linked to ongoing roof repairs. Recent air quality tests showed pollutant levels significantly exceeding safe thresholds, prompting officials to extend the closure through the fall break. Students have been relocated to nearby schools while the district prioritizes safety and completion of repairs, with continued monitoring and testing scheduled to ensure a safe return.
Ahwatukee: Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School Closure Extended Due to Hazardous Air Quality
The city of Ahwatukee is currently facing an extended closure of Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School due to hazardous air quality conditions linked to ongoing roof repair work. The school has been closed since early August, and officials announced this week that the closure will continue through at least fall break.
Reasons for the Extended Closure
The decision to keep the school closed was prompted by recent air quality testing that revealed dangerously high levels of airborne pollutants. Initial testing, conducted after a halt in roof repairs to assess conditions, found particulate matter levels to be approximately 28 times higher than the acceptable threshold established by the U.S. Green Building Council. These elevated levels are suspected to be caused by the off-gassing of materials used in roof repairs, including asphalt components.
Impact on Students and Alternative Arrangements
Students enrolled at Kyrene de la Sierra have been temporarily relocated to nearby campuses, specifically to Cerritos/Altadeña and Kyrene de la Esperanza. The district has advised families that these students are expected to stay at these sites through the upcoming winter break, unless the roof repairs are completed earlier than scheduled.
The district is coordinating with contractors to expedite the roof replacement, which involves asphalt work and related off-gassing. Additional air quality tests will be conducted after repairs resume to determine if conditions have improved and to ensure safety before students return to the original campus.
Timeline and Future Steps
The roof repair work paused earlier this summer for safety assessments after an initial complaint about a bad smell at the school. The first notice was made on July 21, but district officials stated they were unaware of air quality issues until a parent report surfaced days later. Since then, the district initially planned to reopen the campus during the week of August 4, with students participating in online learning during a transitional week before relocating on August 11.
The district has committed to providing consistent updates about the progress of roof repairs and the impact on school operations via its official website. Repair work aims to be completed by October, but the timeline remains subject to progress and ongoing testing results.
Community Concerns and Response
At recent district meetings, community members, particularly parents, expressed frustration regarding the communication efforts related to the situation. Concerns about prolonged exposure to potentially harmful chemicals have been voiced, with many questioning the district’s responsiveness and transparency.
District officials emphasized that student safety is their highest priority and that all actions taken are aimed at preventing further disruptions and health risks. They requested patience from families as efforts continue to resolve the air quality issues linked to the roof repair project.
Background Context
The closure was initially triggered by a series of complaints about unpleasant odors at Kyrene de la Sierra, which the district says they only became aware of after formal reports from parents. Preliminary testing indicated high levels of particulate matter, which are being further analyzed to identify specific chemicals involved. The ongoing roof work involves asphalt materials known to off-gas volatile compounds, which are suspected to be responsible for the hazardous air conditions.
The district’s response includes relocating students, delaying reopening plans, and prioritizing air quality testing to confirm when it is safe for students and staff to return to the original campus. The situation remains under close monitoring, and updates are expected as new data becomes available.
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Additional Resources
- ABC15
- Wikipedia: Air Quality
- AZ Family
- Google Search: Kyrene de la Sierra Closure
- Fox 10 Phoenix
- Google Scholar: Air Quality in Schools
- AZ Central
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Construction
- Ahwatukee News
- Google News: Kyrene de la Sierra
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