High radon levels forced the Plumas Unified District Office to close its lower floor temporarily.
The basement, where Plumas County Office of Education employees usually work, has been evacuated. Staff relocated to other offices will stay there until the radon issue is resolved.
An employee raised concerns about indoor air quality over the summer. That prompted the district to investigate.
Richard DuVarney, state appointed administrator, said an employee bought a radon test kit online and tested the basement. The results showed dangerous radon levels.
The district hired Guzi West Inspections and Consulting, an independent environmental company, to test the full building. The company confirmed on September 14 that radon levels in the basement exceeded safe limits.
Radon forms naturally when uranium or other radioactive metals break down in soil and rocks. The EPA explains it escapes in open air but can accumulate indoors. Long-term exposure increases lung cancer risk, according to the American Cancer Society. Radon is odorless and invisible.
Only the basement showed elevated radon levels. The district closed that area on September 15 and moved employees elsewhere.
DuVarney said they don’t have a timeline for when the basement will reopen. The district must hire a certified mitigation company to fix the problem and then retest the space.
White, the county superintendent of schools, confirmed the district is moving ahead with mitigation plans.
A rumor about high radon at Pioneer Elementary School is false. DuVarney shared an email sent to staff addressing health concerns and offering human resources support.
The school district encouraged anyone worried about exposure to contact HR for resources and guidance.
The building, originally constructed in 1905, underwent a full renovation in 2019. The district now faces the challenge of ensuring a safe workplace for its employees after this environmental hazard surfaced.
