'Safe to re-enter:' Oconomowoc HS reopens; carbon monoxide source unknown

OCONOMOWOC -- Oconomowoc High School and the Oconomowoc Arts Center will re-open for school on Monday, March 26, for regular school hours and operation, officials announced on Sunday.

According to a statement on the school district's Facebook page, with the help of "Environmental Management Consulting, Inc.," officials have been monitoring the air quality inside the high school and arts center and can confirm the building is safe to re-enter.

This, after 176 students and faculty were treated for carbon monoxide symptoms. Officials still don't know what caused the increase in carbon monoxide, and that has caused some concern for students after an unexpected long weekend.

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"Just kind of concerned that they are letting us back in when they don't even know what the source is," said Augie Gelting, OHS junior.

Gelting was evacuated on Thursday, March 22, along with all of the other students and staff at the school, after dozens reported felling ill. Some even passed out. It started in the OAC, adjacent to OHS, where Silver Lake Intermediate students were rehearsing for a choir concert. Gelting said his cousin was there.

"She said that people were dropping like flies. It's an experience she's never had before," said Gelting.

Classes were canceled on Thursday and Friday and many students were forced to leave their cars, backpacks and cellphones behind because of the quick precautions.

"It was chaotic. It was kinda -- it all just happened at once and so quick," said Gelting.

In all, 176 people were evaluated for carbon monoxide symptoms -- some taken to the hospital. After a weekend of air quality testing, school officials said carbon monoxide levels never rose above safety standards. In fact, they said the school's working carbon monoxide detectors never even went off. They still don't know what caused the sickness.

The evacuation and closure came at a difficult time. The third term was set to end on Friday, March 23 and tests are now being pushed to this coming week.

"It's just a lot of stuff to do. I know I have a lot of stuff to do and catch up on," said Gelting.

School leaders said the boiler and hot water heater are the only pieces of equipment that could've produced carbon monoxide. Both checked out fine.



The full air quality update released Sunday is available below:

Below is a letter from Principal Curtis explaining the reopening of the high school Monday: