Public schools in Wisconsin aren’t mandated to have CO detectors but why they may be soon

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Some schools in central and northcentral Wisconsin are implementing new safety measures by installing carbon monoxide detectors following a recent incident in Crandon that brought the issue to the forefront.

Carbon monoxide, being colorless and odorless, requires devices to ensure detection.

The Stevens Point Area School District plans to install carbon monoxide detectors in various locations. Chris Budzinski, the Facilities and Safety Manager at SPASH, emphasized the importance of ensuring safety in areas prone to carbon monoxide such as kitchens or furnace rooms.

“We want them in all these spots, anywhere we have combustible fumes going,” Budzinski said.

Budzinski said the cost of each detector will range from $75 to $150 which could add up.

“Struggles are always money, which isn’t saying we need more, but still having enough money to fund what you want to do (is sometimes a struggle.)” He said.

However, it’s a price that’s worth it to the district.

“It’s a cost,” Budzinski said. “(But you do what) you can do to make work better and learning better for kids.”

To help with costs, Rep. David Steffen (R-Green Bay) is introducing a bill that would allow reimbursement for schools through the school safety grant program.

“(Under the bill) anyone who installs a CO detector in public schools, will be able to seek reimbursement through the school safety grant program at the state of Wisconsin. It’s an existing program. It’s not gonna require any new funding to be applied to it through the budget process,” Rep. Steffen said.

The proposed bill would mandate carbon monoxide detectors in spaces with a capacity of more than 50 people, such as cafeterias or auditoriums. In its current state, it would only be available to public schools but Rep. Steffen is open to discussions about expanding this to private schools in the future.

When the Crandon incident occurred, many people in Wisconsin were surprised to find out there is currently no law requiring detectors in public schools. Rep. Steffen said this is an oversight he is hoping to correct.

“The government often doesn’t proactively address some of these challenges until something bad happens,” he said.

Dr. Sheryl Bedno, the Chief Medical Officer of the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, emphasized the diversity of symptoms caused by carbon monoxide exposure.

“There are an array of symptoms, from the more mild symptoms, such as fatigue, or headache on the spectrum to kind of more serious symptoms (like) confusion, chest pain, and then further along, it is deadly,” Dr. Bedno said.

Reflecting on the incident in Crandon, Steffen expressed gratitude for the lack of serious injuries or deaths, noting it as a learning opportunity to prioritize school safety.

NewsChannel 7 reached out to several districts about the topic. Two responded with their action plans.

Wausau School District:

“Our schools operate utilizing a system of boilers, air handling units, and VAVs (Variable Air Volumes), which actually require fresh outside air to be brought inside our buildings. This type of system does not require a carbon monoxide detector -- as it’s unlikely there would be any exposure like you can get with a standard furnace in your home. It’s also important to note that we have a Preventative Maintenance (PM) program. Our district system technicians perform monthly, weekly, and sometimes daily PM checks and servicing of our HVAC system. We also contract with vendors to perform annual and semi-annual PM checks on all our systems. Safety is our absolute top priority — that’s why we’re consistently doing checks and getting our systems serviced.”

Mosinee School District:

“We have Carbon Monoxide alarms and Emergency Shutdown switches in all of our mechanical rooms that have natural gas-fired equipment. With the approval of our School Board, we completed major facility upgrades which also provided the opportunity to install new sealed combustion boilers, furnaces, and water heaters for added safety and efficiency.”

Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.