Jun 17, 2007 6:48 pm US/Mountain
Fire Inspector: School Open Despite Violations
Prepared for cbs4denver.com by Matthew J. Buettner, Web Producer.
AURORA, Colo. (AP) ―
The Associated Press has learned that the head of the Colorado's public safety inspection division allowed children and teachers to occupy a charter school despite warnings from a state inspector the building was unsafe.
The Lotus School for Excellence in Aurora, with about 150 middle school students and teachers, was allowed to remain open in February despite violations such as a lack of fire alarms.
That's according to e-mails sent to lawmakers and state officials that were obtained by The AP.
Building official Eric Gillespie said his boss, Richard Piper, authorized the temporary occupancy certificate after Gillespie ordered an evacuation of the school because of the violations.
Piper, who is director of the Division of Oil and Public Safety, said the charter school was in a community college building certified for adults.
He insists the building was safe.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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