Letter to Editor November 13, 2003

As I write this, I wait to take my son back to his Doctor to check his blood levels because of his recent exposure to toxins during the Stony Lane roofing project. My son suffers from a blood disorder which makes his exposure to toxins such as those used during the roofing at Stony Lane even more deadly then they can otherwise be. As of last Friday, his blood levels were abnormal. We spent that day in the emergency room at Hasbro Hospital.

I am taking the time to write this letter during a health crisis for my family for one reason: To demand the removal or resignation of James Halley as Superintendent of Schools in North Kingstown. The Superintendent was aware of the dangers posed by the chemicals that were being used. After reading the list of chemicals being used several weeks ago, I contacted OSHA to express my alarm at the toxicity to all children, and especially to my son if such chemicals were used while the building was occupied. Jim Larisa of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training was concerned and did set some limitations to the use of the chemicals while the building was occupied. It was the ultimate responsibility of the Superintendent to ensure that the chemicals were not in fact used while children were present. My child could have died from such exposure. It simply should not have happened, especially since there were similar incidents during the roofing projects at Hamilton and Davisville Elementary Schools.

The Superintendent has not once called or inquired in any fashion as to how my son is doing. His response on television was callous in the extreme. He never even mentioned the people who were ill, wished them well or made any attempt at saying he was sorry that this had happened. He does not seem to realize or care that he could have been responsible for the loss of our child. I pray for his sake and ours, that our child suffers no long lasting ill effects from this. The School Committee MUST now take action to remove the Superintendent, or share in the responsibility and liability of his actions.

Sincerely,

Lisa and Glenn Johnson