news-record.com

OAK RIDGE -- School officials now say they won’t use a final health report they’ve been waiting months for to decide when to reopen Oak Ridge Elementary.

The decision was announced to parents Tuesday via email. It comes after the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety told the school district Monday its final report will not include any additional significant findings.

“There must be a misunderstanding on somebody’s part,” said Jean Cox-Ganser, the team leader for the NIOSH investigation. “They certainly didn’t tell us they were waiting on anything.”

School officials did not release a date when students and staff will return to the school.

Officials met Wednesday to discuss how they'll move forward now that they know the NIOSH report will not require additional work be completed at the school. Nora Carr, a spokeswoman for the school district, said a team of district officials will be formed to develop a transition plan to get the school's 670 students and their teachers moved out of the four alternative sites they've been at since classes started in August and back into Oak Ridge Elementary.