Superintendent Shelly Slaughter of the Cumby Independent School District (ISD) released a statement addressing the recent incident at Cumby Collegiate High School. The statement aims to provide clarity on the events that unfolded and address concerns raised on social media.
In response to the incident, a community meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, February 1, at 5:30 PM in the school cafeteria. The meeting will cover a detailed account of the chain of events, lessons learned, and how the district plans to implement those lessons moving forward.
The statement acknowledges breakdowns in protocols within the district regarding initial reports in such situations, emphasizing the need for appropriate personnel involvement from the beginning. A meeting was conducted on January 24 to discuss the incident, identify shortcomings, and plan training for staff on the Emergency Operations Plan.
According to findings shared by County Fire Marshall Andy Endsley, a malfunctioning HVAC unit emitted carbon monoxide into the building. Additionally, a cleaner used in the building may have contributed to the odor and affected staff and students. The district will share the complete report and its contents at the upcoming community meeting.
The statement also addresses the communication process during the incident, acknowledging discrepancies in messages sent through different platforms. Moving forward, the district plans to ensure consistent information dissemination through multiple forms of communication.
Regarding student and staff safety, it is clarified that students in grades PK-4 were not exposed to any harmful substances, and precautionary measures were taken to ensure their well-being.
Superintendent Slaughter expressed gratitude to staff, parents, emergency personnel, responders, Atmos personnel, and HVAC partners for their support and collaboration during the incident. The district's commitment to the safety and security of students, staff, and the Cumby community remains the top priority.
For further discussion or inquiries, the community is encouraged to attend the meeting on February 1 or contact Cindy Mannon at 903-994-4800 or via email at cindy.mannon@cumbyisd.net.
