No school Thursday

Officials say Carson High School will remain closed Thursday following a mercury spill.

An open house set for earlier tonight was canceled while officials worked to clean the spill caused when a a blood pressure machine in the nurse's office was found to be leaking mercury at about 11 a.m.

Eighteen students and eight staff members underwent decontamination as a precautionary measure this afternoon.

"The quick reaction of high school staff (and the) notification and response of fire, law and health officials will reduce the impact of the incident," according to Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Van Cleempt.

Today was a professional development day across the school district and the majority of the school's 2,526 students were released at 12:30 p.m.