Students and staff at Blalack Middle School were evacuated Thursday afternoon after an alarm tied to construction activity prompted the Carrollton Fire Department and school officials to keep the campus closed for re-entry. The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District and city officials said the incident centered on a reported gas leak and a carbon monoxide alarm during ongoing work on the campus.
Relocation and dismissal procedures
School officials directed families to pick up students at Standridge Stadium, 1330 Valwood Parkway, and asked parents to remain in their cars during the pickup process to avoid delays. Students who normally ride buses were returned home, though the district warned that bus arrivals would be delayed.
- Relocation site: Standridge Stadium, 1330 Valwood Parkway
- Reason for evacuation: Reported gas leak and activation of a carbon monoxide alarm during construction
- Transportation: Students were kept on air-conditioned school buses; food and water were provided
- Pickup requirements: Photo ID and authorization through Teams/Parent Self Serve; students’ ID numbers were requested
Carrollton city spokesperson Bailey Clampitt said the building was deemed unsafe to re-enter after the alarm, and emergency personnel remained on scene. The district and city emphasized that all children were accounted for and that emergency crews were available to assist if needed.
"A building alarm was activated, and at the recommendation of the Fire Department, students and staff did not re-enter the campus," Clampitt said, noting that all children were safe.
What officials say is happening now
Both the school district and city said the cause of the alarm is under investigation. The district stated the alarm was triggered by carbon monoxide related to construction work on campus, while city officials referred to a reported gas leak tied to the same activity. No injuries have been reported.
The district reminded families that anyone picking up a student must be listed as an authorized contact in the district’s parent portal (Teams/Parent Self Serve) and must present a photo ID at dismissal. Officials also asked parents who normally receive bus riders to contact the school if they elected to pick up their child directly because buses were expected to run late.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 |
| School | Blalack Middle School (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD) |
| Relocation site | Standridge Stadium, 1330 Valwood Parkway |
| Reported cause | Gas leak / carbon monoxide alarm during construction |
| Officials quoted | Bailey Clampitt, Carrollton city spokesperson; CFISD statement |
Officials said students remained on air-conditioned buses while dismissal procedures were arranged; food and bottled water were provided while emergency personnel worked the scene. The district repeatedly urged parents to follow the vehicle pickup instructions to maintain an orderly and safe process for releasing children to caregivers.
School evacuations and construction-related safety alarms are relatively uncommon but can produce significant disruption to families and school operations when they occur. For Carrollton parents, the immediate concerns included knowing that children were safe, the logistics of pickup, and how long re-entry to the campus might be delayed.
Authorities said they will update the community as more information becomes available and that the circumstances surrounding the alarm and suspected leak are being investigated by relevant agencies.
