Cost of treatment will be covered by KHSD insurance

By CHRISTINE L. PETERSON

The Kern High School District, through its insurance carrier, will cover the cost of treatment and transportation for students injured by an explosion in a science classroom Tuesday, a district administrator said.

"We are concerned first and foremost about the safety and health of our students and teachers," said Don Carter, the district's assistant superintendent of instruction.

The district is a member of Self Insured Schools of California, which sent a safety and loss control specialist to evaluate the mishap.

It is still being assessed and it's too early to comment on the investigation of what happened, said Jim Varley, spokesman for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office that houses SISC.

Several East Bakersfield High School students were sent to local hospitals after something went wrong during a chemistry class demonstration, and pieces of glass shot across the classroom.

Administrators at the high school are investigating, too, but Carter said he couldn't comment on the specifics of what happened until he sees a report from the teacher.

"It is a textbook-approved demonstration and it is fairly benign," said John Gibson, principal of East Bakersfield High School, adding that the demonstration is done by some teachers early in the chemistry course. "Something didn't work right and that's what we are looking into."

Brad Rappleye, teacher and chairman of the science department at Highland High School, also in the KHSD, said that "to use methanol is not uncommon. It's a simple alcohol."

He said students are taught how to wear safety equipment and use eye washers, showers and fire extinguishers as needed.

Rappleye pointed out that at Highland alone there are about 45 science classes that meet every school day, creating thousands and thousands of hours that students and teachers work in science labs across the district.

Rappleye said the district's safety record is good, and teachers always look for ways to make it even better.

For example, he pointed out that several years ago the district began using smaller quantities of chemicals, not just to conserve resources and cut down on the cost of disposing of waste, but also to improve safety.

What precautions are required?

"Generally when demonstrations or experiments in science classrooms that involve corrosive liquids or combustible materials, that in the judgement of the instructor pose a safety risk, that appropriate eye protection by used by those involved," Carter said.

He said school officials rely on the teacher's judgment, coupled with safety precautions listed in lab manuals or from the chemical suppliers, to decide when and what kind of safety measures should be taken.

Carter said the district follows the California Education Code that says eye protection should be used when engaging in or observing anything likely to be hazardous.