Mercury spill displaces Oaktree Upper Campus

Last week was going to be a week of firsts. The first Oaktree Academy expansion into an Upper Campus. First student/family Orientation at the new location. Tuesday afternoon, just shy of 24 hours from the open house, there was an unexpected “first”. As a teacher was preparing a classroom for the upcoming school year, liquid mercury was discovered on the floor. This mercury came out of the framing of a metal shelf that hadn’t moved in at least ten years. The building and everything in it was immediately confined and steps to remedy the situation were taken. After investigation and testing by the industries top environmentalists, a decision was made to walk away from this newly renovated building and move the Upper Campus to a new location. This difficult decision was made in the best interest of the students. The six month Upper Campus relocation was just completed. New ceiling tiles, new vanities for six bathrooms, thirteen storage cabinets, a computer cart, painting throughout, 400+ light bulbs, kitchen appliances, newly waxed floors, new bathroom stall partitions, fourteen whiteboards, thirteen televisions and mounts, camera equipment, student desks, and office furniture. Also, the years curriculum was recently moved into the school with all of the teachers personal items for their classrooms. Due to the mercury’s gases, the school is unable to remove any items from the building for the foreseeable future. The total estimated loss is around $130,000. Now it’s time to move forward. Oaktree Academy gratefully has been given a space for the Upper Campus, but the rooms are not set up for class. The school needs help outfitting this new location before school starts next Tuesday. Money for desks, curriculum, whiteboards, televisions, painting, etc. Anything helps!