Westby Area School District

At this time, the county has given the all clear for access to all areas of our High School Building.  At around 12:45 this afternoon, a high school student's chromebook battery overheated in the upper hallway of the academic wing (west end) releasing a terrible odor.  Our staff responded swiftly.  We are grateful for the support we received from the Westby Police Department, the Westby-Christiana Fire Department, First Responders, Vernon County Emergency Management, Vernon County Health Department, and La Crosse County.  

Upon notification from the Fire Department, and out of an abundance of caution, our High School students and staff moved to the football field while air tests were being conducted.  The emergency management team sought help from La Crosse County who had a more sophisticated instrument for measuring the types of gas emitted when chromebook batteries overheat.  At 3:00, we dismissed high school students to buses, to their cars, and to sports practice (outside).  At 4:30 we were given the all clear...no detection of any of the 5 gases emitted from chromebook batteries were sensed in the high school classrooms, hallways, lockers, or in the drop ceiling.

Our students are to be commended for acting quickly and calmly and following directions.  Students who were near the chromebook were evaluated by Emergency Medical Practitioners and their families are being contacted by our school nurse as I type this.  Though the exposure risk is extremely low, parents should take their students in to be evaluated if symptoms occur (Tiffany Jothen will be sending a message out to this effect tonight).

It appears that the motivation for tampering with the chromebook battery may have been posts on social media.  I ask that all families have conversations about the reality that such "challenges" are dangerous, illegal, and can be highly disruptive. 

Thank you for your support of our school.  Thank you students for your conduct today.  Thank you staff for acting swiftly.  Thank you to our partners in law enforcement.  

Students may access the building until 8:00 tonight to get schoolwork, chromebooks, keys, phones, etc.  See you tomorrow.