(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Contractor faces public questioning Friday about ‘milk’ incident

Company that served chemical sealant to children to face Juneau’s school board at special meeting

The company that served chemical floor sealant instead of milk to children in a summer program at an elementary school this week will be questioned by the Juneau School District Board of Education during a public meeting at noon Friday, with the Juneau Police Department also likely to conclude its investigation the same day, officials said Thursday.

A special meeting of the school board will begin with a “discussion with NANA Management Services regarding (the) food services incident,” according to an agenda published by the district. Twelve kids and two adults drank the sealant when it was served Tuesday morning by the company during breakfast at the RALLY program Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley School.

A renewal of NANA’s contract to continue providing services in Fiscal Year 2023 will also be discussed after it was removed from the board’s agenda during its regular meeting Tuesday. The board will also consider other items it postponed at the meeting including allowing cultural regalia at school events and a negotiated agreement for Juneau Education Support Staff employees.

The meeting will be accessible via a Zoom link available at www.juneauschools.org.

District Superintendent Bridget Weiss has said the mix-up occurred because large pouches of the chemical were mistakenly stacked on the same pallet as boxes containing large pouches of milk. The two liquids, she noted, are similar in appearance and the pouches containing the chemicals are designed to make the substance odorless.

Some of the children who ingested the liquid were examined in the emergency room of Bartlett Regional Hospital or by other medical officials, but none apparently sustained serious or long-last lasting effects, according to district officials.

The Juneau Police Department is leading the investigation of the incident, and may be able to submit its findings to the school district and possibly prosecutors by Friday, said Lt. Krag Campbell. He said he is not aware of any lack of cooperation by parties involved in the incident.

“Right now, we don’t have enough information to say if there’s any criminal activity or not,” he said.

Campbell said he is not aware of any similar incident or investigation locally for at least the past couple of decades.

The incident has received widespread — and sometimes sensationalistic — national media coverage, along with social media commentary frequently venturing into conspiracy theories.

Contact reporter Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 23

Here’s what to expect this week.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Friday, Sept. 22, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A step at a time toward housing stability

Annual fundraising run/walk for St. Vincent de Paul Juneau highlights improvements, ongoing needs.

A marijuana activist holds a flag during a march on Independence Day on July 4, 2021, in Washington, DC. Members of the group Fourth of July Hemp Coalition gathered outside the White House for its annual protest on marijuana prohibition which the group said it dated back to more than 50 years ago during Nixon Administration. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alaska relaxes rules for marijuana ads, allows free samples

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has signed new regulations that allow the… Continue reading

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital city celebrates 10th annual Juneau EV and E-bike Roundup

Juneau’s electric vehicle growth among fastest in the country, organizers say.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read