Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE)
201-918-2918
For Immediate Release
June 26, 2008
Epps’s promises about water safety are welcomed,
but parents await further actions
On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, Parents and Communities United for Education sent a letter to Dr. Epps, Jersey City Public School Superintendent, highlighting his promise at the Board meeting on Thursday, June 19, to implement proposals made by PCUE. In the letter, PCUE leaders indicated to the Superintendent that they were pleased to see that schools were being tested, and parents were kept informed. “However, during the summer, we will be watching closely to make sure that our school district follows through its agreement with EPA and its obligations to create healthy schools for our children,” the letter added.
PCUE asked the Superintendent and the Board members to:
- Make a commitment to notify all parents by letter/mail when additional test results are ready after schools end on June 25
- Translate information into Spanish for thousands of Spanish speaking parents
- Assign someone with the necessary authority whom parents can call with their concerns and questions
- Provide parents with information on health hazards related to lead and how and where they can get assistance and testing if they need to
Roslyn Gibbs-Muse, a parent leader with PCUE, said “More than 40 parents and children gathered at the Board meeting on June 19. This was the third time we assembled at the board meeting since April this year. We wanted to make sure that the Superintendent and the Board members see that we are here to stay and that we will be following through that all our children are safeguarded from health hazards while they are in schools.”
In the letter, PCUE emphasized that the Superintendent needs to:
- Follow up and make sure that principals do send the letters home as he agreed to. We have come across many instances where parents complained that they did not receive the letter regarding testing schedule and/or test results.
- Include Mr. Maurice Howell’s (point person for water testing) name and his contact information in the letter so that parents have that information. At this point, parents have no idea whom they can call and talk to if they have any issues regarding water testing and lead problems in the drinking water.
- Send information regarding health hazards related to lead to all parents not just to PCUE.
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 organizing parents in all
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Contact:Loyda Goldston-973-204-4121
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