MEXICO – Contractors at the Region 9 school construction site worked over the weekend on the floor for the addition and plan to finish that part of the project next weekend.

During the work, according to firefighter Mike Chartier, a couple of new safety measures were taken to make sure no carbon monoxide would leak into the existing school again.

And it worked.

He said he and fire Chief Gary Wentzell checked every room early Monday morning before students and staff arrived to make sure they were carbon monoxide-free.

On Wednesday, Feb. 27, the toxic gas seeped into the school causing the evacuation of nearly 70 students and staff. About two dozen were driven to Rumford Hospital, where they were treated and released.

The vocational school’s director, Brenda Gammon, said the school’s carbon monoxide monitor, which triggered the alert that unsafe levels of the gas were circulating in the school on Wednesday, was replaced. A second one was also installed.

She said Occupational Safety and Health Administration representatives were at the school after the incident. The contractor, Bowman Bros. of Newport, was not cited.

Besides changing their work schedule, contractors also sealed the wall between the new and old sections of the building to further ensure that no gas would seep through, Gammon said.

She said all students who had been at the school on Wednesday were there on Friday. Student schedules call for attendance every other day.

She said she met with the student body and the staff Friday morning to update everyone at the same time on what was happening.

The $4.9 million construction project, due for completion prior to the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, will enable all vocational programs to be housed under one roof. It will also allow the addition of programs in automotive technology and early childhood development.