I’m sure they meant “discarded according to policies and regulations.”  My question is, if mercury use in the curriculum is no longer allowed, what was the teacher doing with mercury thermometers?  We’re not permitted to have mercury in any form in DE schools.  If mercury is found (thermometer, bottle, or compounded) they call the district office and we arrange to have it picked up.  Until then, it is locked away from students and NEVER used for instruction.

<snip>

 < /o:p>

The thermometer broke during class time on Friday, April 30, while being used by a teacher during a demonstration. The students in class removed their shoes, so as not to track any mercury outside of the classroom, and were tested for traces of any vaporized mercury before being released. No one was injured, and students and parents were kept in communication with the school about the situation.

...

Using mercury in a science curriculum, even when found in thermometers, is no longer allowed in New York state. Webutuck had several mercury body thermometers in the science classroom that have since been discarded.

...this past summer Dutchess County BOCES, which is the school’s official risk management agency, conducted a cleanup of chemicals in the science labs. The mercury thermometers were overlooked

 < /o:p>

<snip>

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>

I SINCERELY hope they didn’t really mean that the way it sounds…

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>

Dr. Bradley K. Norwood

Laboratory Director

Arista Laboratories

1941 Reymet Road

Richmond, VA  23237

(804) 271-5572 ext. 307

(804) 641-4641 (cell)

brad.norwood**At_Symbol_Here**aristalabs.com

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>

************** D i s c l a i m e r ***************
This e-mail message is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute, disclose or otherwise use the information in this e-mail. Please also telephone us (804-271-5572), or fax us (804-271-5594), immediately and delete the message from your system. E-mail may be susceptible to data corruption, interception and unauthorized amendment, and we do not accept liability to such corruption, interception or amendment or the consequences thereof.

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>

 < /o:p>