A gas leak at Ladera del Norte Elementary on Thursday morning resulted in students and staff being transported to Farmington High School Scorpion Arena by bus, as posted on the Farmington Police Facebook page.
All students and staff were accounted for and are safe, the initial post stated.
Reunification was begun at 1:30 p.m. Parents or others who picked up children were asked to enter and park in the north parking lot of Farmington High School, located off Dustin Avenue. Identification was required.
The post stated, “Those students who have not been picked up during the process and who usually ride the bus home will be transported on their bus at regular scheduled time. Students who walk home will be brought back to their school to return home in their typical fashion at the end of the typical school day.”
Officials asked that all other students be picked up at Farmington High School no later than 2:45 p.m. Day care will be able to pick up students at Farmington High School at the regular pickup time.
Teachers and administrators were instructed to remain with students until all students were picked up or taken home by bus.
The original post stated that there was a gas leak at the school, and students and staff have been evacuated. Police and fire officials were present, according to the FPD post.
Roberto Toboada, public information officer for Farmington Municipal Schools said he received the phone call about the leak at 11:30 a.m.
He reported that 538 students and 61 staff at Ladera del Norte Elementary School were affected by the incident.
Toboada said the assistance and cooperation from the Farmington Police Department, Farmington Fire Department and the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management was invaluable.
“Students were quickly and orderly evacuated before our incident command unit arrived at the school and had lunch on the field next to the playground,” Toboada stated in an email.
The gas leak should be repaired by tonight, and Ladera will be open as scheduled tomorrow, he stated.
