Conte School May Reopen on Monday
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City officials say a student at the school dumped a small amount of the toxic material — about the size of a half-dollar — so he and other children would be sent home. Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco said the city would bring charges against the juvenile.
The boy's home on Barbour Street was found to have high levels of mercury contamination and was condemned; another child connected with residence had to go through decontamination procedures at North Adams Regional Hospital.
Extensive testing has been done at another school, homes, 1st Congregational Church to which students were evacuated Monday, two locations in Pittsfield, a number of private vehicles and buses and on student clothing that may have been contaminated. Conte, the Barbour Street house and some clothing were found to be contaminated.
The cost of the cleanup is expected to cost thousands of dollars, although the city is insured for such incidents.
Mayor John Barrett III told media on Thursday evening that condemning the Barbour Street residence was a safety measure to ensure no one entered the building. The family was forced to leave everything behind.
The 8-year-old girl affected is the daughter of Michael P. Fillion Jr., boyfried of the juvenile's mother. Fillion told WNYT News Channel 13 the boy got the mercury from a North County farm.
School officials, the district attorney's office and police are discussing what charges will be filed against the boy, who they say was caught in the act on the school's hallway security camera.
Mercury, once commonly used in thermometers and other devices, begins to evaporate at room temperature and can be inhaled. Prolonged contact can cause neurological and organ damage. Health officials, however, say swift cleanup of mercury spills greatly minimize any health issues.
The Conte situation "is more of a contamination issue than a health issue," Michael Feeney of the state Department of Public Health said on Tuesday.
Some information provided by iBerkshires' media partner Berkshire News Network.
