A leaking gas line leading from the boiler room to the Knoch High School science labs delayed the start of the school day Wednesday for students and staff at the high school and adjacent middle school.

Dave Foley, South Butler County School District superintendent, said he called the fire department at 6:45 a.m. after the odor of natural gas became noticeable in the high school.

Foley sent out a group message to parents and called W. L. Roenigk, the district's transportation company, to have drivers divert students to the elementary buildings across Knoch Road.

He said high school students were sent to the primary school gym and middle school students to the intermediate elementary school gym

Students who drive to school parked at the high school and walked across the street to wait with other students.

Foley said firefighters and gas company employees worked with the district's maintenance personnel to turn off the valve to the leaky pipe.

Students returned to class just before second period at about 8:30 a.m.

This is an excerpt from a story appearing in Thursday's Butler Eagle.