Odor prompts dismissal at Berlin school

Berlin, Conn. (WTNH) - Firefighters were called to the McGee Middle School in Berlin for the third time in as many days.

The school dismissed at 10am after students complained of irritations as crews work on a new roof, but the students didn't even make it to class.

"They just had us go to the auditorium, cause when people came off the buses they told us we were going to the auditorium and they put a movie on," said 7th grader Andrew Mals.

Testing shows nothing wrong with the school's air quality and experts are baffled as to why some of the staff was complaining of watery eyes and scratchy throats this morning.

"The fire department was here, they checked their meters, they found nothing. So because of the concerns we closed the school as a precaution," said Mark Winzler, Interim Superintendent.

It was a similar story yesterday after a teacher was hospitalized after she was overcome by the fumes.

Further testing will be done over the weekend, so school will be closed on Monday. Plus, parents will have their chance to get their questions answered.

"Before we re-open school again we are going to have two opportunities for parents -- one to have them walk through the building and the second will be an evening informational meeting," said Superintendent Winzler.