Pentucket Regional Middle School HVAC leak sends 4 students to hospital, 42 more sick

WEST NEWBURY — Four students were sent to the hospital and 42 were treated at the scene after a refrigerant leak at Pentucket Regional Middle School made them sick Monday.

Students reported smelling a strange odor coming from one of the science classrooms just before 9:45 a.m. 

"I got a little whiff, it was a little weird when we went out for our break," said one student of the smell. "People we're saying skunkish."   

However, investigators now believe the smell came from a component of the heating and ventilation system inside the school leaking refrigerants into the air. 

They are still trying to pinpoint why the leak happened.

Refrigerants, which can come from things like AC units, are considered hazardous materials.

The middle school and Pentucket Regional High School were both evacuated as a precaution. 

"All of the students were safely evacuated from the building," said Michael Dwyer, police and fire chief for West Newbury. 

They were later sent home for the day so investigators could continue to search for the source of the leak. It is still unclear when school will go back in session. 

"We will wait until we have everything patched up and fixed, whatever it is, until that problem is resolved we're not gonna have people back into the building," said Justin Bartholomew, superindent for the Pentucket Regional School District. "It could be like a snow day decision."

Students said they felt nauseous and had irritated throats. 

Four were taken to local hospitals with what were described as "non-life threatening injuries" and 42 other students were treated by EMS at the school for minor issues.

No faculty, staff, or visitors at the school were treated or taken to the hospital. 

No smoke or carbon monoxide alarms went off inside the school, police said. 

"I heard from my daughter that something was going on and to come and pick her up and then heard through the grapevine that there was a scare," said one mother waiting to pick up her seventh grader. "I'm a little disappointed that there isn't a better process in place. It seems like there's organized chaos to some degree here, which is definitely disappointing to see as a parent. But regardless, I hope everybody is safe."

The middle school and high school complex is brand new. It opened back in September.

"I was in my gym class and I smelled the smell from the locker room and they told us to evacuate," said Ben Bachand a student at the school.

One parent spoke about their reaction to learning the school was being evacuated.

"It's frightening. It's the worst call you ever expect because your mind immediately goes to the worst, dark place," he said.