Parents call for Supt. Halley's dissmissal

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, November 20, 2003

BY MEGAN MATTEUCCI
Journal Staff Writer


NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Outraged parents last night urged the School Committee to oust Supt. James M. Halley and provide better protection for their children.

Parents told the School Committee stories of children sent to the hospital, young children dismissed from the bus to random people in the neighborhood and special needs students left without a ride home during recent school evacuations.

Parents pointed fingers at Halley, telling the School Committee to fire him or voters will fire them during the next election.

"Speaking as a parent, taxpayer and employer of the superintendent, I'm embarrassed by the events of this town," said Patricia Delaney, a mother of two students. "I want to call for Dr. Halley's contract to be broken for cause."

Joseph Avanzato, a Stony Lane parent, said he collected 600 signatures last year on a petition from taxpayers that said they had no confidence in Halley. And nothing has changed this year, he added.

"You guys are going to do your job -- get rid of the superintendent and see to it that the kids are safe," Avanzato told the School Committee. "If you can't do that, what can you do?"

A group of parents are now circulating several petitions calling for Halley's immediate removal, citing mismanagement of the school roof construction projects.

"The superintendent has to go," Avanzato said. "The School Committee and administration have information that made it crystal clear that the contractor was negligent and you knew the chemicals were toxic."

Students and faculty at Stony Lane Elementary School were evacuated twice in the past two weeks because of glue fumes from a roof-replacement project. Students were sent home early on Nov. 7, after the fumes leaked into at least three classrooms. Although workers had finished the roof work, students were evacuated again on Nov. 10 after teachers again complained of the odors.

Davisville Elementary School students were also sent home last month after debris fell in the classrooms and lead paint was found on blinds. Last December, students at Hamilton Elementary had to be moved after tar sealant from the roof caused headaches, sore throats and upset stomachs.

Lisa Johnson, president of the Stony Lane PTO, said she was appalled at the administration's disregard for students' safety during the roof construction projects.

Johnson said she wanted parents to know that a letter that School Committee Chairman Donald DeFedele sent home with students yesterday contained inaccuracies. The letter states "to this date, no students or staff members have been medically reported as injured" from the roof work.

But Johnson's son was.

Johnson's son, who has a blood disorder, had to be treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital several times because of a reaction to the chemicals in the glue used on the roof.

"He was nauseous. He was yellow. His blood levels are still not right," she yelled. "You know my son was injured. I'm appalled of this School Committee. Don't tell me no child was affected; my son was."

Dorothy Darcy called on the School Committee to amend the emergency evacuation plans for the elementary schools. Darcy said the current e-mail system alerting parents to early dismissals is helpful, but something else needs to be done.

During the Stony Lane evacuations, Darcy received an e-mail alerting her to the early dismissal -- but 10 minutes after her son had arrived home.

She was also concerned that bus drivers were releasing students to neighbors, without consent from parents.

Halley said he has asked elementary school principals to put together a phone tree.

Avanzato said he doesn't understand why school officials didn't follow the evacuation procedure outlined in the school handbook during the problems with the roof.

According to the handbook, Stony Lane students are supposed to be sent to Davisville Middle School if there is a problem and Davisville is open.

Many parents were also outraged at the School Committee's lack of response to their concerns last night.

DeFedele said it is the School Committee's policy not to respond to comments made by the public during the open forum.