BY BERNIE MIXON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MOUNT HEALTHY — A day after students were injured when part of a riser collapsed during a Christmas concert, Mount Healthy school officials Wednesday said the equipment will be replaced.
Five students suffered minor injuries Tuesday night when two sections of the choral risers collapsed. The injuries range from ankle sprains to bruising.
Although an inspection of the 12- to 13-year-old risers could not find a defect, school officials decided Wednesday to replace them as a precaution.
“We have not found the cause” for the collapse, said Superintendent David Horine. “It could be movement (of the students on the riser) caused one of the locks to unlock. But that is speculation.”
The seventh- and eighth-grade students were swaying on the three-level semicircular risers as they sang an encore of “It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.”
Witnesses said there was a sound, and a portion of the 21/2-foot high risers collapsed in the school's gymnasium on Miles Road.
“I don't believe there was an excessive amount of swaying,” Mr. Horine said. “I think we have to tell kids it's something to be aware of and to keep it to a minimum. It was the encore number. It was unfortunate for the concert to end that way.”
Springfield Township life squads took three of the injured to Children's Hospital Medical Center. A parent took a fourth student to the medical center, while a fifth student was taken to Franciscan Hospital-Mount Airy Campus, Mr. Horine said. All were treated and released.
Mr. Horine credited fast-acting parents and staff with coming to the students' aid soon after the incident.
For the choir, it was business as usual Wednesday, with a performance at a retirement home in Norwood.
