An extended Shelter in Place on Monday, May 13 was cleared by Nanaimo RCMP at 2:30 p.m., five minutes after the school day concluded. (Submitted photo)
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Shelter in Place disrupts operations at Nanaimo school

May 13, 2024 | 6:04 PM

NANAIMO — Operations returned to normal at a north Nanaimo elementary school following disruptions for most of the day.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS) stated a Shelter in Place designation applied to Pleasant Valley Elementary School on Monday, May 13 from about 11 a.m. through 2:30 p.m.

“School dismissal at Pleasant Valley was by the front doors only today. We received communication from RCMP at approximately 2:30 pm that the situation was cleared. There will be normal school operations tomorrow,” an NLPS statement to NanaimoNewsNOW read.

A Shelter in Place designation involves a potential environmental hazard, according to the District’s emergency procedures. The designation involves everybody remaining inside the school with the principal tasked with monitoring access to the school.

During Monday’s Shelter in Place, the upper portion of Doumont Rd. at Metral Dr. was closed with emergency responders restricting access through the area.

In a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW on Tuesday, May 14, Nanaimo RCMP confirmed a section of pipe with caps on both ends was located in the field off Doumont Rd.

The pipe was examined by the RCMP’s Explosive Disposal Unit and determined to be harmless.

Despite the disruption, after school care services continued at Pleasant Valley school on Dunbar Rd.

A Shelter in Place disrupted activities at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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