The RCS school district is in contact with air quality and safety representatives following a newspaper report on Thursday that a significant amount of mercury has been released into the air from the LaFarge Cement Plant.

The plant is located directly across state Route 9W from the middle and high school.

On Thursday, RCS representatives contacted an air quality and school safety expert and received assurances that surface tests for mercury conducted in the middle school last year – the year after the timeframe outlined in the newspaper account – found trace amounts of mercury within acceptable guidelines. That mercury was linked to a broken thermometer and the area was remediated.

RCS Facilities Director Gene Doane said on Friday that he will be in contact with air quality experts at C.T. Male and Adirondack Labs to determine if they recommend any course of action in terms of further testing in the middle and high schools as well as other district schools and facilities.

The safety expert said that despite the proximity of the plant to the schools, the schools are not necessarily in the direct path of the emissions as the emissions likely flow above and to the east of the school.

“The safety and health of our students, faculty and staff are of the upmost importance to us. We will continue to strive to ensure the safety of all who come into our schools,” said Assistant Superintendent Diane Albano, Ed.D.