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News, Education
Thursday, September 06, 2007
New Illnesses at KHS; Board Members Promise Action
A special committee investigating air quality issues at Westport’s King’s Highway School was told today that new health problems among teachers and students have been reported since school opened last week.
Gavin Anderson and First Selectman Gordon Joseloff inspect the King’s Highway gymnasium on opening day last week. Mold had been found in the wall area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Meanwhile, two members of the Board of Education, speaking out for the first time to the committee, promised board action on the group’s recommendations as well as an investigation into the history of past air quality complaints at the school.
There have been at least 13 faculty complaints of health-related issues at the school since it opened last week and two or three from students, said Sue Jacozzi, director of the Westport Weston Health District and a committee member. They include headaches, sore throats, runny noses, itchy eyes, and nosebleeds, she said.
The committee’s air quality consultant, Gil Cormier, said the problems could be the result of improper removal of ceiling tiles containing fibers or over use of disinfectants in cleaning classrooms.
Gavin Anderson, committee chairman, said he had made an urgent request to Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon for information about recent cleanup work at the school, including what chemicals were used, but he has yet to respond.
“We don’t know what work was done in the last two to three weeks,” said Anderson. “I have not had a response. It is critical to know.”
“Something is happening,” said Jacozzi. “I don’t know what it is.”
Anderson said Landon had informed him before hand that he and Assistant Superintendent Nancy Harris, who came under intense criticism at last week’s meeting for their handling of air quality issues, would not be able to attend today’s session.
Anderson quoted Landon as telling him “we have taken action” on complaints about various classrooms forwarded to him, including cleaning one classroom “for the fourth time.”
Don O’Day, a Democratic member of the Board of Education, listened to much of the discussion at today’s meeting and then told the committee its recommendations were very important and will be addressed.
“There will be action here,” he said. “I can’t speak for the whole board, just myself, but the things we are hearing have to be addressed—they simply have to be addressed.”
Added James Marpe, a Republican member of the Board of Education: “There do appear to be a number of low hanging fruit or recommendations that probably would be best implemented sooner rather than later.”
O’Day promised that the board will look into past complaints about air quality issues at the school, possibly at its Sept 24 meeting.
“It is my understanding and hope and desire there will be that historical discussion,” he said. “What happened, when did it happen.”
Both O’Day and Marpe said they and other board members are in the process of compiling very specific questions for Landon and his administrators about King’s Highway air quality issues.
Gerald Kuroghlian, a teachers union representative who has specialized in air quality issues, said there is a history of such problems at King’s Highway going back at least 10 years.
He said in the past he has had to go “outside the system” to get action on complaints, including to OSHA and the former director of the Westport Weston Health District, Judy Nelson.
“When Judy Nelson spoke, everyone jumped, including the man in that room,” he said, nodding to a door leading to Landon’s office.
Lauren Tarshis, a King’s Highway parent and committee member, urged the King’s Highway PTA to help parents and teachers obtain the desired information from Landon.
She said “the continuing climate of fear” among teachers at the school could be contributing to their high anxiety levels and perhaps making reporting of symptoms more extreme.
“I’m not suggesting the symptoms do not exist,” she said. “I’m suggesting that there’s an environment that’s dysfunctional right now. People are very afraid.”
Tarshis added: “Their superintendent has not addressed them directly on the issue. In fact, the last communication to them simply said that everything was fine and yet they are hearing that things really aren’t fine.”
Anderson said he and Cormier met with a number of King’s Highway teachers today after school at the invitation of the teachers union. He said Cormier will have a session with the teachers on Sept. 19 to talk about air handling systems and issues.
Several committee members said Landon had organized a “Tools for Schools” meeting today with a representative of the state Department of Public Health. Landon had promised in July to implement the air quality improvement program in Westport schools.
Comments: Comment Policy
Hopefully, the parents, teachers, and BOE will get useful answers and real action before the 19th or 24th. How about today (Friday)? What could possibly be more important?
Next entry: Friday, September 7, 2007
Previous entry: Placing a Rose for 9/11 Victims
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