Only Elementary Students Will Return To School In Pawhuska Monday Morning

Pawhuska elementary school students are heading back to class in the morning. 

8/26/17 Related Story: Some Pawhuska Students Returning After Gas Leak

A gas leak at the high school forced the district to shut down all the schools for nearly a week and a half.

The high school, junior high and elementary school sit right next to one another. 

So, although the leak is right there, with everything so close, the air quality is a concern for all the schools. 

Gas is still seeping out at the Pawhuska high school as state and federal agencies try to figure out how this break happened. 

Meantime construction crews have covered up one of the breaks with dirt and installed a ventilation system that will constantly monitor the air in the high school.

It was air quality dangers stemming from the break that delayed the school year for about a week and a half. 

The EPA has been consistently monitoring the air quality. 

The levels around the schools are low enough for elementary schools kids to get back to class.

"Let's get this started and get them going." Said parent Justin Wilson.

But only the elementary kids can go back. The junior high and high school kids have to wait.

"Get these kids to school get my son he's a senior he has a long year ahead of us." Said Wilson.

Wilson had children in school from elementary to high school. 

He said when the break first happened, he didn't expect it to be this big of a problem.
"We were playing football practice for a whole week and then they finally moved us from one field to another because it was getting serious around the softball field," Wilson said.

Wilson also said while some may still have concerns about the little ones heading back to class he's ready to roll with what the district decides.

"We are going entrust in them starting school tomorrow if they know what's best for our kids," Wilson said.

A district representative told us off camera that the leaders will be getting together tomorrow and hopes to have a clearer idea on how much longer it'll be before all the kids head back to class.