District to remove fueling tanks and depot at Northport Middle School
At a board of education meeting Nov. 21, Robert Banzer, Superintendent of Schools, recommended to the board that they seek other fueling alternatives of the two 4,000 gallon tanks and look at options to move buses to another location. The district has already begun researching options for alternative tanks locations and placement of buses, according to the superintendent.
In addition, a plan will presented at the December 12 board of education meeting.
The decision comes less than a week after a TBR News Media article disclosed that the district was in violation of laws governing petroleum bulk storage.
On Nov. 25, the NYS Department of Health re-inspected the fueling tanks and indicated to the district that the previous citations were corrected.
In a letter to the Northport School Community, Banzer said they would:
- Conduct refresher training on the latest guidelines for tank maintenance and inspections
- Schedule periodic tests of all tanks throughout the districts with an outside environmental testing firm
- Ensure consistent and documented follow up with the Department of Health when seeking follow up inspections
- Formalize internal communications which includes the superintendent and board of education.
Similarly, the board of education approved two other recommendations brought forward by the subcommittee:
- Authorizing that the district request the Suffolk County Department of Health perform a follow-up inspection to their May 2017 visit and its subsequent inspection report.
- Authorize follow-up testing of indoor air quality to follow the same protocols as the August 2018 assessment as well as air quality testing in individual rooms.
