Sensor issues regarding the fire alarm system caused EHS to evacuate into chilly 16℉ winds around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.
According to Interim Principal Alex Fox, the evacuation occurred due to sensor issues and the alarms might continue to go off throughout the school day.
The fire alarm was not triggered for the rest of the school day on Monday, but the evacuation caused a major disruption to classes, as well as an assembly that took place that morning.
Before the evacuation, about half of the sophomore class was called to the auditorium for a class presentation on course selection. The presentation was interrupted by the alarm and students were confused whether to go find their teachers or stay with the crowd.
Sophomore Mia Diltz said the unexpected evacuation was confusing and worrying for students who were uninformed of the situation.
“I was confused as to what was even happening. The staff in the auditorium seemed very worried which concerned me,” she said. “Afterwards, I heard that the [fire alarms] went off all through winter break and that would’ve been nice to know.”
According to Fox, the same fire alarm system problems occurred a few times over the break as the staff tried to prepare for students’ second semester arrival.
Staff member Tabby Crowe, who was interviewed during the evacuation, said she didn’t know about any sensor issues or potential triggers for the alarm system.
“If this is real, then [the staff] absolutely has to protect the students and take their safety seriously,” she said. “[But] I have not heard of any faulty wiring or construction issues.”
The lack of communication between staff was evident as students and staff struggled to stay calm in the ankle-deep snow, and teachers worried about their students keeping warm in the freezing cold.
About 10 to 15 minutes after the evacuation, students were informed by teachers and staff to move to the RP Lumber Student Center and the John Davis Wrestling Center to get students out of the cold.
Students returned to the building around 7:55, but the interruptions weren’t over when students walked back through the doors.
Diltz, who was in a class presentation, said the evacuation threw off the morning for sophomores who attended the meeting.
“[The evacuation] caused the class meeting to interrupt our second hour for at least 20 minutes,” Diltz said.
She said the cold was the most unbearable part of the morning. As students and teachers settled back in the building, Fox announced over the intercom: “This should be a lesson to students to bring their coats.”