SALEM, Ohio — Officials of United Local School District in Hanoverton, Ohio, closed the elementary and high schools May 14 because of a concern with air quality.
“Manure was spread Wednesday on our three vocational agricultural fields surrounding the school,” Tom Davis, United School District superintendent said.
“It affected the students and faculty toward the end of the day, but it was too late in the school day to send anyone home.”
Davis said officials chose to use the last “calamity day” to close the schools for the day in order to avoid any discomfort from the manure odor.
By Thursday afternoon, the odor had dissipated and the schools’ evening activities, including a track and field meet and a tennis practice, continued as scheduled.
Davis does not anticipate the manure spreading being an issue for the remainder of the school year or in the coming spring seasons.
“In the future, we will make sure it is done during the weekend instead of a weekday,” he said
I do not want to cause an alarm, but health impacts from this is more than odor: viruses.