Power Outages in Schools Explained

As a result of an issue on Maple Avenue at approximately 9am, both Berry School and Bethel High School experienced a partial loss of power. By about 10:15am power had been fully restored to both buildings. The partial loss of power did not impact the educational program at Berry School.

Dr Kevin Smith, school superintendent, wrote, "We believe that the power loss at Bethel High may have triggered an electrical failure of a small two horsepower motor in an air handler directly above one of the locker room entryways in the back of the building.  The smoke triggered the fire alarm and the building was evacuated."

According to Dr Smith, all students and staff were safely evacuated from the building. After approximately 60 minutes, and a thorough inspection of the building, the Bethel Fire Department gave the staff and students permission to return to the building.

There was a minor residual smoke odor in the first floor corridor where the air handler is located and a slight residual smoke smell in two classrooms whose windows were open directly above the area in question. No classes were scheduled in either classroom immediately following the return to the building.

The Advanced Placement Chemistry test was suspended and resumed when students returned to the building. The Advanced Placement Psychology Test began at a later time.