District officials announce closure of Northport Middle School for rest of school year
School district officials announced that Northport Middle School will be closed for the rest of the school year amid concerns from parents and students about a foul smell inside the building.
Students will be relocated to Northport High School, East Northport Middle School, Norwood Elementary School and Bellerose Avenue Elementary School. Parents argued that the smell was making their children sick, and staged "sick out" protests.
Officials authorized the hiring of an environmental firm to investigate the source of the stench at a recent school board meeting.
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Parents stage another 'sick out' at Northport school after elevated levels of mercury
Tests show elevated mercury levels outside Northport Middle School
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The firm detected mercury and benzene near the schools cesspool and septic systems. The school was already scheduled to be closed Monday because of Martin Luther King Day.
The district says the building will also be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday as they finalize the relocation plans.
Officials say the details of the relocation will be communicated to families before Thursday.