What would you do if you had school-age children attending this school?
On Monday, a bunch of parents raised a stink at a meeting of the school board about construction of a new roof on our high school. The parents that attended this meeting were in the know about what was happening due to office staff at the school leaking/whistleblowing about:
1) Removal of asbestos roof while children were present
2) Dust falling in classrooms so thick one parent said "kids could write their names on their desks"
3) Foul odors making children and staff sick
The board assured parents at this meeting that "all was safe" until a question was posed to the acting superintendent: "would you allow your grandchild to attend this school?" The answer was no, and school was closed.
The board pointed to tests done in August and early September on air quality, which showed that only 1 asbestos fiber had been found in a classroom and that all OSHA and NJDE guidelines have been met. Meanwhile, in between testing and after school opened, construction and removal of the asbestos roof continued while children were present in the school.
On Wed. of this week, the superintendent informed parents that the new testing had been concluded and we were awaiting results, which they expected Thursday. School was to remain closed through Thursday.
In the meantime, parents noted on Wednesday that workers at the school were working hard removing load after load of debris all day from the site.
On Thursday night, we got a call from the school that it would remain closed through at least Friday due to "more testing." This was the last we heard.
Now rumors are saying the school will be closed until at least Tuesday. No other information is coming from the school district but parents are pretty freaking peeved. Something stinks here. People are screaming cover-up.
The testing agency recommended school stay closed until additional testing/remediation be done.
Yeah, I'm pissed. The school posted this on their website without an explanation AFTER the acting superintendent got all snippy with us parents, saying that TESTING WAS DONE and everything was SAFE.
Eff her.
This is pretty big shit.
Has an expert quantified the risk the students were potentially exposed to? I understand a number of bad elements were found, but were they in a quantity that is harmful?
Has an expert quantified the risk the students were potentially exposed to? I understand a number of bad elements were found, but were they in a quantity that is harmful?
I'm not a chemist, so I have no idea. There were about 20 chemicals over the residential (and even some over the industrial) limit. They recommended closure. I guess that means...yes? The school district is mum now. Probably because there's blood in the water now.
I don't disagree, but the second I found evidence of any sort of cover-up I'd want someone out.
Anyone can make a mistake - they happen, no matter how obvious it might seem after the fact. But school officials who are capable of covering up a health issue are capable of anything, and I don't want those people anywhere near vulnerable individuals (small children, the elderly, the infirm, etc.).
Extremely elevated levels of ethylbenzine and trimethyl benzine were found in the report (over industrial limits), both are airborne, both on the hazardous substance list due to cancer
Someone needs to pay. And them being quiet about it? That's damning. They know what happens next.
"Oh, I said steamed hams. Not steamed clams."
"Skiiiiiinnnnnneeeerrrr!"
What region?
-Upstate New York.
Really. I'm from Utica and I've never heard of "steamed hams".
-Oh, no, it's from Albany!
I see.
However i question why the hell would they wait until school is in session to do a roof replacement. That NEVER happens. Forget about the removal.. hopefully it's not a hot-applied built-up roof, that's nasty smelly stuff.
I would be hot if my children were carelessly exposed to it like that.
That said, do not overreact. Wait for the results and educate yourself about asbestos levels.
But I would not send your children back to that school until you know it is safe. If you have to keep them out of school for a month, so be it