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PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG
After four months closed due to a lingering hydrocarbon odour, Alookie School in Pangnirtung is "back to normal," superintendent Paul Mooney said Feb. 7, the day the school reopened.

"I'm very happy," said principal Mary Etuangat, noting she could not smell anything unusual. "We're all happy we're back."

Government technicians told the community Jan. 14 that the school, which has been closed for much of the last four months after a Sept. 20 fuel spill in the boiler room, would be ready to re-open Feb. 6. Making the move back from Attagoyuk School, which has housed both the elementary and high school students since Oct. 28, took just a little longer than expected.

"We thought we'd be done on Friday," Etuangat said, "but we got our stuff from the other school and our classrooms were not settled enough for students Monday."

Even with the one-day delay, it was a big relief to be back, she said.

Contrary to original speculation that the spilled oil was causing the smell, Mooney learned in January that the true cause was the air handling system, which was bringing exhaust back into the school. That problem has been fixed, and the boiler room has been cleaned up as well.

He said the Department of Community and Government Services is still monitoring the situation.

"There are still contractors coming in to check settings and make sure everything is working right, but it's all been signed off as being good to go."

He emphasized the problem was never bad enough to cause health concerns.

"There was never any major pollution found that showed up as a high measurement, but now all the measurements are perfect," he said. "The industrial hygienist certified it last week."

That certification resulted in "a lot of smiling faces" at Alookie Tuesday morning.

"The school looks beautiful," Mooney said after attending the re-opening. "There was a lot of work done on that school. Everyone was delighted to be back."

Now back in familiar surroundings, teachers and students can focus on finishing the year's required work.

"We've lost quite a bit of time," Etuangat said, "but I believe with all the subjects we tried to include during our stay at Attagoyuk, we have covered enough, I have been told."

The school will celebrate the re-opening at a later, unknown date. Having been open for only a week, the school will be closed this week while teachers attend the Nunavut Teachers' Conference in Iqaluit.

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