Six staffers sent home sick from Elmwood Park school day after evacuation

Six staff members at Gantner Avenue Elementary School in Elmwood Park were sent home sick Thursday — including two who needed an ambulance — the day after a chemical leak in the building that caused an evacuation.

No students were sent home but the school was closed Friday to perform more tests, according to Superintendent Anthony Grieco.

A chemical leak in a rooftop heating unit caused the evacuation of Gantner School on Wednesday and initially sent three students, a custodian and a firefighter to the hospital for treatment, authorities said. More students were treated at the hospital following the initial evacuation, Grieco said. 

"No students were sent home [Thursday], so I would hope it is unrelated to anything within the school being the cause," Grieco said, "but we are going to be proactive by performing indoor air quality testing. In the event that it is something in the school, we want to address it immediately and effectively."

Grieco said he expects to receive the test results Saturday. 

The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management and HazMat unit, the Elmwood Park Fire Department and Elmwood Park Police Department deemed the building on Roosevelt Avenue safe, but Grieco said they planned to test the air quality with an independent, licensed environmental company.

News:Passaic County Sheriff Officer found dead in Woodland Park

More:North Jersey 'Star Wars' fans hyped for 'Last Jedi' premiere

The superintendent insisted that there were no issues with carbon monoxide levels in the school. 

Barbara Bednarz, a parent of one of the students at Gantner, said she was worried about the state of the school. 

“There is a problem with the building and I’m very unhappy," Bednarz said. 

Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno confirmed that no students were sent to the hospital Thursday, but did not provide further information. 

The heating unit that leaked Wednesday was repaired that night, Grieco said. The superintendent added that once results are in for the additional tests, they will inform parents.

The other schools in the district opened normally Friday. 

Staff Writer Michael W. Curley Jr. contributed to this report.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com