Mount Kisco Elementary, Hillside evacuated due to gas leak

Students and staff at Mount Kisco Elementary School and the Hillside program returned to their buildings Oct. 1 after a construction-related gas leak forced them to spend part of the school day at Fox Lane High School.

Contractors struck a gas line near Dakin and Highland avenues that morning, and a strong gas-like odor was detected inside and outside the elementary school, according to village and Bedford Central School District officials.

District officials said no students or staff were harmed.

Students were bused to the Fox Lane campus, where they remained with teachers and administrators and were served lunch at the high school. Emergency medical personnel checked and cleared students and staff at the scene, district spokesperson Jen Garry said. Three school nurses were assigned to Fox Lane to assist with any medical needs.

By late morning, Con Edison had secured the leak, and the utility and fire department had cleared both buildings for students to return, Garry said. The district said dismissal would proceed at the regular time and later confirmed that everyone was back and accounted for.

Mount Kisco Mayor J. Michael Cindrich said markings identifying underground utilities were incorrect. He said officials would review the incident.

Cindrich said “we're still going to review that whole procedure and make sure that it doesn't happen again,” ABC7 reported.

In its follow-up statement, the district thanked school staff, transportation and food service workers, police, firefighters and village officials for coordinating the response.

“We could not be more grateful to work with such hard-working, compassionate people,” the statement said.

At a press conference, Superintendent Robert Glass thanked Cindrich and praised BCSD staff, faculty, service providers and the district's security team, who "came together to make this situation run as smoothly as possible."

"We would also like to thank our community partners: the Village of Mount Kisco, including Mayor Cindrich, who was my primary contact; our School Resource Officers; and Bedford Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Mount Kisco Fire and Bedford Hills Fire for their expert collaboration," Glass said.