Posted on: Saturday, January 15, 2005
Ceiling caves in at Kailua school
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Eight students and one teacher received minor injuries when part of a ceiling collapsed at Kailua Intermediate School yesterday.
The accident covered them and nine additional students with some sort of dust, prompting officials to take all 18 to Castle Medical Center for decontamination. Everyone was then released from the hospital.
Officials said they did not know if the dust was asbestos or possibly another hazardous material, and wanted to protect the health of all concerned.
"We decided to err on the side of safety and remove all the students, transport them to Castle to decon," said HFD Battalion Chief Lionel Camara Jr.
During decontamination, a person disrobes and washes down in a specially built shower that captures all of the water for proper disposal.
About one-third to three-quarters of a classroom ceiling on the second floor of C Building fell on the students and a science teacher at around noon yesterday, Camara said. The cause was unknown.
The ceiling was made of an old style of tile that, according to school records, was not made with asbestos, Camara said. But the plaster used to hold the tile in place could have contained hazardous material.
The accident brought dozens of parents to the school as students called on their cell phones. School officials turned them away, saying that if their child was involved parents would have been notified.
Lonzo Lewis said he didn't get a call but came anyway to be sure.
"I should be at work," Lewis said, deciding to leave the campus after talking to the school's security officer.
Others showed up saying the news caused them to panic, but when they went to the office they were told they couldn't get their children until 2:15 p.m., when classes let out.
Kim Luis, who has a seventh-grade son at the school, said she wanted to make sure he was OK.
"When you hear that something has happened, you want to grab your own child and make sure your child is safe," Luis said.
Ambulances, four fire units and a hazardous materials truck responded. Building C was evacuated and sealed, and the area has been declared off limits until experts can identify the grayish white dust, Camara said.
Principal Suzanne Mulcahy said the first concern was caring for the injured and those exposed to the dust. Additionally, the school will offer counseling for people who were traumatized.
"It was a terrifying experience for both students and adults, and some of those counselors have started to work," Mulcahy said. "I would like parents to know if students are afraid and they exhibit any emotional symptoms, we will offer counseling services."
Mulcahy said the state Department of Accounting and General Services has hired an environmental consultant to test the material, and a structural engineer will assess the damage.
Luis said she thought the Department of Education wasn't doing a good job of maintaining its property and providing an appropriate learning environment.
"This would be a most drastic, horrible example of their inability to apply our resources appropriately to our children," she said.
Calls to the Department of Accounting and General Services seeking information on the last time work was done on the roof of Kailua Intermediate were not returned.
No roof repair or replacement work is scheduled for the school, according to a list of projects from the Department of Education.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
