PIKETON, Ohio – Once a symbol of education and community, Zahn’s Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio, now stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in the region’s history. On August 17, the Scioto Valley Local School District will auction off the school, a building that was shuttered in 2019 due to radioactive contamination concerns. The decision to sell the property, described as “fully furnished” and ideal for “investment,” has ignited a fresh wave of controversy, with some questioning the wisdom—and legality—of such a sale.
A Local School Closed Forever
In May 2019, the Scioto Valley Local School District Board of Education was stunned by revelations that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) air monitoring stations, located just across the street from Zahn’s Corner Middle School, had detected radioactive materials in the air. Subsequent inspections found traces of these hazardous substances inside the school itself, prompting its immediate closure. The discovery was part of a broader pattern of contamination linked to the nearby Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), a former uranium enrichment facility with a history of radioactive releases.
The closure marked a turning point for the local community. The school, once a hub of activity, was now a financial burden. “Since its closing, the Zahn’s Corner Middle School has required significant and ongoing maintenance, including utilities, insurance, groundskeeping, and HVAC upkeep,” the Scioto Valley Local School District stated on July 12, 2024, announcing the decision to sell the property. “The costs of which are a significant financial liability for the Board of Education, which is a small, rural, public district with limited means. Maintaining an unoccupied building has impacted the ability of the Board of Education to provide the necessary programs and opportunities for its students.”
Radioactive Controversy and Public Outcry
The initial contamination findings were backed by independent testing conducted by Dr. Michael Ketterer, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Ketterer’s 155-page report painted a grim picture of radioactive contamination, identifying harmful elements such as neptunium-237 and americium-241—both of which pose severe health risks, including bone cancer and organ damage. Despite these findings, the DOE publicly refuted the report, insisting that the school was safe.
The disconnect between the DOE’s assurances and the independent findings has left the community in a state of disbelief and anger. Local activist group Don’t Dump On Us has been vocal in its condemnation of the government’s handling of the situation. “Children who attended the school and employees have died from cancer. Families were changed forever because of this,” said Gina Doyle, one of the group’s founders, in a statement to the Guardian.
Joseph J. Mangano, MPH, MBA, of the Radiation and Public Health Project, added to the chorus of concern, emphasizing the long-term impact of the PORTS facility on local health. “For half a century, Portsmouth enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. The enrichment process generated harmful radioactive chemicals, some of which were released into local air, water, and soil, and ingested by humans. Recent state and national health data show high and rising rates of cancer and deaths in Pike County. From 2015 to 2019, Pike had the highest rate of diagnosed cancer cases of all 88 Ohio counties,” Mangano wrote in a published Op-Ed.
Investigative Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and founder of A Call to Actions, Bobby Vaughn, Jr. stated, “We found radioactive contamination at Zahn’s Corner Middle School going back to 2012.” He would go on to say, “The Department of Energy knew about this; Centrus knew about this, yet Zahn’s Corner wasn’t shut down until after 2019.”
Portsmouth/ Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security led by Vina Colley, also decries the sale of the radioactive school. “DOE has known about the contamination in the community for decades. They have lied and hid behind the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, as well as others. The sale of this school is a slap in the face to the community.” Those sentiments were also echoed by the American Nuclear Activist Alliance. “Pike County has been used as the nation’s nuclear testing lab. They have killed countless individuals over the last 70 years. Now, they want to sell a school that has death attached to it,” said founder and human rights consultant Jason Salley. “They are perpetrating crimes against humanity right here in southern Ohio.”
A Community in Crisis
The repercussions of the contamination extend far beyond Zahn’s Corner Middle School. Environmental scientists have pointed out that the ongoing demolitions at PORTS have likely exacerbated the spread of radioactive materials, further endangering nearby communities. In 2017, the DOE reported the detection of neptunium-237 at an air monitoring station near the school, followed by the discovery of americium-241. Both elements are known to have long-term health effects, including cancer and organ damage.
Residents in the area have long suspected a link between the plant’s operations and the high incidence of cancer in the community. In Piketon alone, five cases of childhood cancer were reported in recent years, with three of the affected children succumbing to the disease. The Pike County General Health District and the Scioto Valley-Piketon Area Council of Governments have even gone so far as to advise residents against consuming produce from gardens within six miles of PORTS due to the contamination risks.
A new 2024 study led by Dr. Ketterer further confirmed the community’s worst fears, revealing alarmingly high levels of radioactive contamination in the environment surrounding the former PORTS site. Neptunium-237, with a half-life of 2.1 million years, was found in the area, posing potential long-term health risks to residents. These findings echo earlier studies, including a 1982 report that noted an increase in technetium levels in local plant life.
The Auction and Legal Risks
Despite the well-documented hazards, the Scioto Valley Local School District is moving forward with plans to auction off Zahn’s Corner Middle School. The decision has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the prudence of selling a property with such a troubled history. There have even been proposals to repurpose the building as a charter school or a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center—ideas that legal experts warn could lead to significant legal and financial liabilities.
Attorneys have pointed out that under Ohio’s child-endangering statute Ohio Revised Code § 2919.22(A), operating a school in a contaminated building could result in third-degree felony charges. Additionally, Ohio Revised Code § 2927.24(B)(2) prohibits knowingly exposing individuals to radioactive substances with the intent to cause or create a risk of serious harm, a violation of which is classified as a first-degree felony.
A Troubling Legacy
As the August 17 auction date approaches, the future of Zahn’s Corner Middle School remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the building’s legacy will continue to cast a long shadow over the community of Piketon. The sale of the school may ease the financial burden on the Scioto Valley Local School District, but it also raises critical questions about accountability, safety, and the long-term impact of radioactive contamination.
Protests are scheduled for the day of the auction.