Wisconsin School Spills

Stoughton

A mercury spill occurred on January 30, 2004 in a science lab in Stoughton High School. Roughly two liquid ounces of mercury came from a manometer and spilled onto the floor in the lab around 9 am. The spill was not discovered until 5 hours later. 70 students who had been in the lab that day were detained until after 10 pm. Nobody was injured and all students were able to claim their belongings after they were found uncontaminated. The estimated cost of this clean up was said to be at least $65,000.

Fond du Lac

A mercury spill occurred on August 7, 2001 while items were being moved from the old High School to the new High School. A large mercury barometer that was in a cardboard box had leaked during the move. The spill contaminated the old school, the moving van and the new school. The spill was cleaned up right away. Less than 5 grams of mercury were spilled and the cost for clean up has not been made available to WDNR.

Green Bay

On March 5, 1999, a student stole a 5-ounce jar of mercury from a science lab in Green Bay East High School. The student shared the mercury with other students and it quickly spread throughout the school. The mercury was spread throughout the school, a bowling alley, a school bus, a sidewalk and the student's home. The school was closed for 2 days for clean up and many students lost items such as clothing, shoes and back packs which were contaminated and had to be disposed of. The original cost of this spill was $230,000 but was settled at $175,000 paid by the school district. The student who stole the mercury was required to pay restitution of $6,000.