SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School will reopen its high school for instruction on Jan. 22.
The school closed its doors after the body of night cleaner Brian Deforge was discovered on the morning of Jan. 7. Moments after emergency crews attended him, their carbon monoxide detectors began going off.
CNY Central previously reported the charter school’s message to families on Jan. 17. That message said: “Working in close collaboration with local authorities, we have finalized the reinspection of the kitchen equipment, its ventilation system, and the fire alarm system. Additionally, we have installed a new hardwired and monitored carbon monoxide detection system to further enhance safety measures.”
Before the doors officially open to students and staff again, parents and guardians are invited to tour the school and see the safety measures for themselves.
Nikki James Zellner, an advocate for CO safety in schools and started CO Safe Schools LLC, is encouraging parents who take advantage of the academy’s tour to ask important questions about the safety implementations.
“We might feel safe by saying we’re following protocols and that language might make us feel better, but in the reality of things, that doesn’t actually mean that the school is safe,” she explained. She said parents should ask three questions:
- What’s the training of the staff and the emergency protocols?
- How prepared are they in terms of their new alarm systems? When will it alert, how will it alert and how will people leave the building?
- How else are we at risk within the building?
For more tips to empower yourself, Zellner has resources on her website for parents, teachers and local leaders.
Zellner said she hopes this Syracuse incident sparks more conversations about safety in public spaces like grocery stores, libraries and other commercial buildings.