Bellefonte approves emergency repair to gas lines as high school remains closed

Bellefonte Area High School classes are online again Wednesday as the district works to repair several gas lines.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board unanimously approved an emergency agenda item to repair gas line connections on the high school roof. The faulty connections were found on Monday after local fire departments and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania officials were called to the school due to a gas odor.

The repairs will cost an estimated $65,000 to $80,000.

No signs of hazardous gas were found and the smell emanated from a clogged sewage pipe, superintendent Tammie Burnaford said during the meeting. The high school has not yet replaced the sewage line that was causing the smell, Burnaford said.

Classes resumed on Monday after fire departments responded, but were moved to flexible instruction on Tuesday.

“We use our gas for three primary things, for the kitchen, for hot water and heat,” Burnaford said. “We could have held school but we would have had to figure out something for lunch and we would have to figure out something for hot water or heat.”

Classes are expected to resume in person on Thursday but only if the repairs have been completed.