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By KEVIN HOWELL
Staff Writer
HANOVERTON--A gas leak at United Elementary sent students home early Thursday.
Students and staff were evacuated from the entire K-12 campus as a precautionary measure Thursday morning after administrators discovered a gas leak under the elementary cafeteria at approximately 8:45 a.m., according to schools Superintendent Lance Hostetler.
Administrators used a monitor to read the level of gas in the building, and although the odor existed, the readings were normal, Hostetler said. The gas supply was turned off and students and staff were evacuated to the stadium.
"It was never at a dangerous level, but it's better to be safe than sorry when dealing with the kids," he noted.
High school students were dismissed on their own or to parents at 10:30 a.m. while elementary students were released to their parents at 11 a.m. Students who did not get picked up were dismissed by bus at their regular dismissal time.
The gas company cleared the building for use at approximately 2 p.m.
Hostetler said the cause of the leak was a rusted out hole in the building's infrastructure due to the age of the building.
Hanover Township and Winona fire departments, as well as the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office, responded to the campus and assisted administrators t.
"I've never been more impressed by the team effort I saw today," Hostetler added.
There are no classes scheduled for today or Labor Day. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday.