Permeating intermittent odor Robin Hood School cafeteria closed down
Published on December 13th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - Robin Hood School hosted last week's School Committee meeting and despite complaints of a intermittent odor permeating that building's cafetorium, committee members could detect nothing out of the ordinary on Thursday night. However, since the problem has been a concern, Stoneham Board of Health agent Bob Bracey officially closed the Robin Hood kitchen earlier that day until the odoriferous mystery could be solved.
According to School Superintendent Joseph Connelly, after pursuing a number of avenues to find the source of the stench that comes and goes, one cause has been recently singled out and a solution to the problem is hopefully underway.
"It's been an intermittent problem so it has been hard to find," reported Facilities Director Max French.
Grease traps and seals, ceilings, drains and vents have all be checked; kitchen has been put into negative pressure and a smoke test performed, and the main sewer line has been flushed twice, but the odor remains. On Thursday, drains were videotaped for evidence of cracks and other malfunctions, and it is suspected that the unique set up of the Robin Hood School, which houses the cafetorium on the second floor, unlike the other school buildings in town, may be the culprit.
French said that water traps underneath the floor were found to be dry, when constant pressure from a water barrier is what is needed. As a result, the traps are drying out and sewer gases are rising.
"At this point, based on today's work, we believe that might be the cause."
The Robin Hood School, like Stoneham's other elementary schools, receives it hot lunches from the kitchen at the high school, so no cooking takes place on the premises. However, the Board of Health has kept the kitchen closed this week during the work, and Robin Hood students are either bringing in cold lunches from home or receiving them from the school lunch program. The "cold" school lunches typically consist of a sandwich or bagels and cheese.
Robin Hood School principal Alice Reilly alerted parents to the problem and temporary inconvenience last week. Connelly stressed on Thursday that parents need to be assured that "at this point, there is no health hazard for the kids."
"The kids are fine. They're more excited about having holiday music in the cafeteria," said Reilly, who reported today that work to rectify the problem continues and the kitchen is expected to remain closed all week.
"They're acclimating beautifully and I haven't gotten complaints from parents."
The School Department is working closely with Houghton Plumbing as well as with the town's plumbing inspector to rectify the problem and get the kitchen back up and operating.
Soley reported that in her 10-year turn as Robin Hood principal in the old building where the kitchen was likewise on the second floor, this problem has occurred before.
In other news, the School Committee voted in favor of an increase in pre-school tuition and registration fees.
Connelly advised the committee that in his nine-year tenure as superintendent, there has only been one preschool tuition increase, and currently, Stoneham's program is priced slightly below a similar private program in town.
Current preschool rates are $1,150 a year for a 2-day program, and $1,600 for a 3-day program. The committee approved a $50 increase, bringing tuition costs up to $1,200 and $1,650. The current $25 nonrefundable deposit that is applied to tuition was also increased to $45.
"It would still put us in line with the private program here in Stoneham," Connelly said. "I don't think the $50 increase will be a major deterrent in keeping up our enrollment."
The last increase in this program was estimated to have been a $100 increase approximately 3-4 years ago. Connelly called the current increase a modest one, but said that the total additional revenue generated would be a much needed $7,000-$8,000 for the school budget. Connelly recently had a long discussion with Town Administrator Ron Florino regarding the town's budget woes.
"Folks, (fiscal) 2008 is going to be the worst year yet."
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