Press Release: Parents Applaud Water Testing, but Expect Results before the End of School Year

Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE)

JC chapter of Statewide Education Organizing Committee (SEOC)

169-A Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305

For Immediate Release

May 8, 2008

Parents Applaud Water Testing, but Expect Results before the End of School Year

Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE), the grassroots organization that has been calling since March for a comprehensive program to guarantee safe water and air in all Jersey City school buildings, responded with cautious optimism today to the news that in one month, beginning May 12, drinking water in all Jersey City Public school will be tested. Several parents in PCUE have received letters from Jersey City Public Schools notifying them of the news.

"We are very happy to see that the Board is responding to our demand to immediately test drinking water in all school and notify parents about the schedule when the testing will take place," said Loyda Goldston, a PCUE parent leader with three children in school 34. "Testing the water in all Jersey City schools is an important first step toward our children's safety, but we will be watching closely to see that the testing is completed, that parents are notified of the results by the end of the school year, and any possible problem is corrected before September when schools open," she added.

Another parent, Valentine Gakuba, with a child in school in Lincoln High School stated that "Lot of parents I spoke with in my neighborhood have not received the letter. The BOE has to do a better job to reach out to parents. The letter needs to be translated in Spanish. Although the letter is posted on the district's website, it should be put in the local papers. Moreover, they have not given us any information about whom to contact if we have any questions."

Parents called today's Board of Education announcement a victory for all Jersey City public school parents, children and school staff, but cautioned that there still remains much to be done before schools re-open.

Parents want a comprehensive "Healthy Schools Program"

Since March, PCUE has been calling on Superintendent Epps and the Board of Education to carry out a four point program to address unsafe environmental conditions in Jersey City schools:

1. Following the US Environmental Protection Agency's communication guidelines, Jersey City District should immediately notify parents of its timeline for testing drinking water and let them know when the results will be available. It should also designate a contact person with the necessary authority to communicate with parents regarding lead issues and address their concerns.

2. Create a standing committee of the Board of Education that is exclusively responsible for health and environmental safety of our schools. Three parents should be a part of this committee.

3. Create an Indoor Air quality Team following EPA guidelines at the district level. This team should partly consist of parents.

4. Issue semi-annual health and safety report cards for each school to parents of children in Jersey City beginning in August 2008. The report card should be sent to parents via mail and posted on the District's website.

Parent leaders met with Superintendent Epps on March 11 to present their proposals, and subsequently met with Facilities Committee chairperson Suzanne T. Mack. "Everyone heard us," said Louella McFadden, "but we need action not promises." So PCUE parents took their message to the April 17 meeting of the Board of Education. About 60 parents and children held signs calling for "Safe Water and Air in Our Schools" throughout the meeting. Parent leader Telissa Dowling addressed the Board. She also hand delivered about 700 signatures from parents coming from over 30 schools on petitions in support of the PCUE's 4-point healthy schools proposals.

PCUE is a grassroots organization of parents, grandparents, and concerned members of the community that is a chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee of NJ. PCUE is committed to organize parents in all Jersey City communities to improve education for our children and create schools that are healthy and safe. For more information on PCUE, parents are invited to call 201-918-2918 or visit the blog at http://pcueforhealthyschools.blogspot.com/

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Contact:

Telissa Dowling at 201-724-1408

Loyda Goldston at 973-204-4121