Roof_Summaries.html.doc

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HAMILTON SUMMARY
(Last December)

Construction on Hamilton’s roof began the week of December 16, 2002. Work on the roof caused vibrations in the classrooms that resulted in particles falling on furniture surfaces. These vibrations were a constant auditory distraction throughout the week. Students had difficulty focusing and many of the younger children were frightened. The tar sealant was very noxious causing headaches, sore throats, eye irritations, and stomach upsets. Teachers opened windows to provide ventilation and students had to wear coats to keep warm. The combination of dust and odor caused breathing difficulty for one staff member. One teacher contacted her doctor because of concern for her unborn child. Hamilton never received written notification regarding the materials to be used and the possible health hazards that they may cause. Students were moved to the multi-purpose room when heavy machinery was on the roof and could lead to dangerous conditions in the classroom.

DAVISVILLE SUMMARY
(This September)

Initial Notification to teachers was done through a note that went home to parents. We were not told (as it was unknown) that debris, water, and paint chips would be falling through the ceiling. The slated ceilings allowed for odor and debris to fall through into the classrooms unexpectedly.

Construction began on Monday 9/22/03 over the kindergarten rooms, the cafeteria, and the special needs room. Students remained in their classrooms for the morning. Children from these classes were taken to the outdoor classroom or to other classrooms for the afternoon.

No materials were covered for protection from falling debris, as the problem was unknown at the time.

The noise was deafening. Children were covering their ears. Teaching and learning were impacted, as the teacher had difficulty being heard over the noise of the machinery. Children were having difficulty focusing on the lessons.
- Paint chips were falling as nails were pounded through the ceiling. Lead paint is being investigated.
- Black, unidentified particles of dirt were falling through the cracks in the ceiling onto children as they were eating their snacks.
- The noise was vibrating the rooms that were being work right above.
- Windows in all rooms in the building had to be kept shut due to the strong odor of the chemicals used to apply the roof. It was a very hot day.
- Students were allowed outdoor recess on this day.
- A strong diesel smell came through the closed windows from the crane and other trucks throughout the building.
Monday afternoon, the principal sent an email to staff suggesting that we not be in rooms when they are working just above our heads. Plan to be out of your room for 1 1/2 hours was what we were told.

Tuesday, there was no construction due to rain.

Wednesday
- One first, one second, and one third grade room on one side of the corridor were moved to either art/music, computer
- lab, library or a classroom across the hall, doubling the amount of students in a classroom.
- Materials and furniture were covered with plastic trash bags by the teachers with the help of custodians.
- The smell and noise on the other side (the “safe” rooms) were still distracting.
- Teaching and learning were impacted as teachers were speaking loudly over the noise of the machinery. The lessons that were taught “outside” of the home classroom were not as structured and effective as they would have
- been. All text books and materials were not available outside of the classroom.
- Water came through the ceiling in some classrooms.
On Thursday, the opposite side of the hallway done on Wed. was worked on.
- The smell was terrible in the hallway. The classroom doors were closed. The windows were closed. It was hot. The air was still and sickening.
- Many teachers reported having headaches and sore throats by the end of the day.
- A staff member went to the hospital via ambulance for unknown reasons, alarming the staff that the air quality in the building may be unsafe.
- Two second grades, one first grade, and one third grade classroom were displaced for the entire day.
- The same academic concerns from the prior day exist.
- The displaced children carried their belongings with them all day long.
- OSHA came. All classrooms in the entire wing had to be emptied for the entire day, unlike the day before when students returned in the afternoon.
- OSHA also requested that the third wing of the school needed to be completely vacated by students and staff while work was completed on the third section of the building.
- At 1:30pm, the specialists, library, art, music, Chapter 1 Math, 2 resource teachers, ESL, 2 reading teachers, Speech, OT, PT were told that they had to leave their rooms for Friday and Monday. Gather your materials for those 2 days and teach in the classrooms, hallways or other spaces you can find.
- Custodians helped us to move materials and furniture and cover up everything with heavy plastic.
- Lead tests were being done.
An outside cleaning service was called in to check the air quality and clean the carpets and the air with fans with hepifilters. They checked for mold and other dangerous substances. Their findings are unknown. It wasn’t cleaned very well.

The kindergarten and special needs rooms were also “cleaned” Thursday night (they had class here Mon-Thurs. before the rooms were cleaned.)

An insurance company came.

Friday
Friday morning there was dirt and dust and paint chips over desks, bookshelves and tables.

The hallway where the third wing was going to be worked on was sealed off for the first time, as the smell was too strong according to OSHA.

Pictures were taken of damaged ceilings, dirt left behind after rooms were cleaned, the sealed off hallway, library room, computer room, art/music room, resource room, reading/ESL room, Speech/OT/PT room.
This week:

Teachers were unable to plan for next week because needed materials were in closed classrooms.
Quality instruction was sacrificed due to movement, overcrowding, lack of sufficient materials.
Movement and noise caused distraction and disruption.
Some children were nervous or scared.
This was a far from ideal teaching and learning experience.

Two pre-emptive attempts for Stony Lane
(Advocate attempted effective communication with Central)

# 1
An email message sent:
-----Original Message-----
Fri 10/17/2003 8:35 AM
RE: Roof Repairs

Doctor Robert Vanderslice from the Health Department sent us information on websites provided by the Us Government. There are two chemicals in the glue that are harmful; toluene and xylene. Toluene in low levels affects the nervous system of both adults and children. Symptoms include tiredness, confusion weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, hearing and vision loss. It also causes birth defects and retarded mental abilities and growth if a pregnant woman is exposed. Xylene causes irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty breathing, impaired function of the lungs, kidneys and liver. It also causes headaches, dizziness, confusion and lack of muscle control and birth defects. I have the toxicology reports on both chemicals if you would like a copy. We were told that the gluing would take place on Oct. 29 because there are 2 professional development days on the 30th and 31st which would be held in another location. The building would be empty for 4 days. In the Journal Bill Daly said that the gluing will take place on Saturday the 25th.

What can we do to be sure that no one, child or adult, is knowingly placed in harms way?

# 2
An earlier email message sent:
-----Original Message-----
Tue 10/14/2003 1:19 PM

We were informed today that the health department was called regarding the chemicals in the glues that will be used. Doctor Vanderslice from the health department was surprised that anyone would be in the building while these chemicals were being used. His response was that if you could smell it than you are being exposed and that side effects include headaches, nausea, and fatigue. It can also cause birth defects, which is why anyone pregnant or trying to become pregnant should be out of the building. It takes about a week for the fumes to completely dissipate. What do we do as many of us have concerns regarding this????? How will this situation be handled at other schools which will be in the same situation soon?
Stony Lane Summary
(This month)

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Subject: SL roof

Stony Lane children had burning eyes and minor headaches. A child in my classroom has a blood disorder and was affected by the chemicals being used. His mom (Lisa Johnson) has contacted Dr. Halley and the school committee, but neither has responded to her regarding this issue. Mrs. Johnson is also a chemical engineer, and asked for the gluing to take place while we were not in school, due to her child's blood disorder. Her son has not been back to school since this happened. Mrs. Johnson took her son to Hasbro last Friday, where they have been monitoring his blood levels ever since. Hopefully, her son will be coming back to school tomorrow. The teachers and Para’s suffered with burning eyes and noses, metal taste in mouths, difficulty breathing, headaches, coughing, sore throats and redness in faces. Some were affected more than others, depending if you were in the right or wrong area. Kindergarten had to relocate their classrooms on Monday into the cafeteria. 4th grade the teachers had redness in faces and trouble breathing. 3rd grade had burning noses, red eyes, and metal taste in mouths.

FOREST PARK SUMMARY

Forest Park was closed on Monday and we were just told that it will be closed next Monday as well. Aside from the disruption of instruction time, the confusion has negatively impacted the students. Some students were absent yesterday because they have allergies but some were absent because they did not get the word that school was open. Many of the students have been inattentive because they think they will be getting a day off, only to find out at the last minute that there will indeed be school. Teachers have delayed beginning new concepts because they fear that the disruption of closing school will affect student learning. Some teachers had breathing difficulties yesterday. On Monday we will have used up all of our professional development days that were allocated for school use. Since they had to be planned at the last minute, many felt that they were not of the quality they wanted. The professional development had to be done at alternate locations so teachers did not have access to items they may have needed. Yesterday there was a strong order in the building when teachers and students arrived. The building was checked out and the doors were opened. The windows could not be opened because they were taped shut. Many children spent the day wearing their coats. The staff feels that this whole situation has been handled poorly with no concern for students, parents and teachers.

Compiled and e-mailed by Bob Sullivan, President NEANK 11/15/2003 [edited for viewing on web 11/16/03]