Supporting the athletes from the sidelines were about 1,200 volunteers from the college, area businesses and school districts. The Special Olympics was just part of Service Day 2000 at Messiah College. A letter from a concerned parent prompted Cumberland Valley School District officials to call a news conference Thursday to explain they have taken steps to reduce elevated levels of carbon dioxide at Eagle View Middle School. The parent accused the district of trying to cover up the problem, a charge Superintendent Anthony Colistra denied at the news conference. Colistra said the district was not trying to hide the problem, but wanted to determine the extent of the situation.
Carbon dioxide is released into the air when students exhale.
The problem first surfaced in November when an eighth-grade social studies teacher complained about the air quality in Room 419. That prompted the district to conduct an investigation and testing. Elevated levels of carbon dioxide also were found in other rooms in the building. The district decided to open the outside air dampers fully for all classrooms to increase fresh air flow, which lowered the carbon dioxide levels. Colistra said he heard no reports of students experiencing discomfort as a result of the elevated carbon dioxide levels.