Although carbon monoxide monitors are not currently installed in Chinook’s Edge schools, the division’s board of trustees is expected to discuss whether the devices should be put in place, says superintendent Kurt Sacher.
“We’ve been given no direction from Alberta Infrastructure in that regard (installing the monitors), however we are going to have a discussion with our board about the topic just to see if there is a willingness to explore it further,” said Sacher.
“There is a whole set of infrastructure standards when it comes to safety that we are expected to meet and we meet all of those standards and that is something that is really important to us.”
The Edmonton Public school board announced last week that it plans to install the monitors in all its schools, at a cost of between $50,000 and $100,000.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic colourless, ordourless and tasteless gas.
Installation of the monitors in schools is not mandated by Alberta Education.
Should Chinook’s Edge decided to install the monitors it would involve a major construction undertaking, said Sacher.
“It’s not like in a household where you just put one up against the wall and put a battery in it,” he said. “It would be more significant than that in schools.
“We’d have to look at rewiring, but we are always open to taking another look at if we are as safe as we can possibly be in a cost-effective environment.”
Chinook’s Edge trustees are scheduled to meet this week.
“It could come up as early as next week (Feb. 6) but within the next few weeks for sure,” he said.
Sacher explained that every school in the division is required to have a fire and smoke detection system in place, which they all do.
“There are a whole set of regulations and expectations from Alberta Infrastructure and we have consistently met all of them,” he said. “We have a safety manager who is well renowned across the province. We are always looking for ways to improve.
“We have to go through internal and external assessments to meet certain high levels of safety.”
A recent carbon monoxide incident in Montreal sent a number of students to hospital.
There are 40 schools in the Innisfail-headquartered Chinook’s Edge School Division.
