By Jennifer Quam

School District 57 has completed its investigation into the events that led to the evacuation of McBride Secondary School on March 22 and saw 49 students and staff taken to McBride Hospital for treatment.

Brian Pepper, Superintendent of Schools, said that during tests they were able to duplicate what happened on March 22 in McBride.

“The only way we could get the same reaction to what happened was by putting Sculpy clay in an oven and turning the oven to BROIL,” said Pepper. “We are not drawing any conclusions or saying this was human error. We are saying here are the facts and this is how we got there.”

In a test, an oven placed on bake at a temperature of 275 degrees Fahrenheit for nearly 40 minutes did not produce the same affect as the day in question. However when the oven was placed on BROIL the same kind of reaction that happened at the high school on March 22 occurred within 7 minutes of the test, causing similar black smoke and odour.

Test results show that any cleaning to the McBride high school oven prior to the Sculpy Clay being placed in that oven did not have a reaction with the clay.

Pepper said that extensive cleaning of the home economics rooms was done prior to allowing anyone back into the room. Cleaning included laundry, dishes, washing of furniture and cupboards, cleaning of remaining stoves, and washing of walls.

Pepper said some recommendations made by the McBride Secondary School include that home economics oven should be used only for cooking purposes and the need for improved supervision and instruction in the use of stoves.

“After this investigation I feel better informed and have a better idea of what happened at the school,” said Pepper. “I am pleased that the McBride school has reflected on that day and has practices to put into place to make things better.”