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Finch Elementary reopens following CO poisoning

ATLANTA — Students returned to Finch Elementary School Friday morning four days after dozens were poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Atlanta Public Schools said they have taken all precautions with the temporary boiler that replaced what was thought to be a faulty boiler. The new one has been tested and is safe, the district said.

On Monday, around 50 students got sick at the school. Many were carried out by firefighters.

Superintendent Erroll Davis said on Thursday that two maintenance workers were doing routine work on the school's air conditioning system last Friday and forgot to flip a valve to the heating system, overloading the boiler and causing the leak. Initially, APS said the incident was caused by a faulty boiler.

"When all this broke, I would have hoped that they would have come forward and at least indicated that they were working on the equipment in the building," Davis said during a news conference on Thursday.

Since Monday's incident, students have been bussed over to Kennedy Middle School for classes. APS said attendance has been low, but with classes back at Finch on Friday, the principal is encouraging everyone to attend.

Counselors will be on hand Friday for students who need them.