PCUE AND UMDNJ APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN JC PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PCUE AND UMDNJ APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPROVE

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN JC PUBLIC SCHOOLS

In follow up with our healthy school campaign, an application was submitted to the federal government (National Institute of Health) for funds for a collaborative project between SEOC-PCUE and UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ) School of Public Health/Safe Schools Program. The centerpiece of the this project is community involvement in improving health and environmental safety of the our schools.

This funding would support a four-year project that consist of three main components:

1. Data Gathering: Collecting data on the health-related school environment that we don't already have clear information on
2. Education: Based on data collected, educating staff, parents, and students about the importance and results of this investigation
3. Using what we learn and find: Making recommendations and, if necessary, mounting political pressure, to get the school district to fix potential health hazards
   

The data collection piece will have two main parts:

1. We will use the newly-adopted health-and-safety school report-card proposed by PCUE. UMDNJ-Safe Schools would train parents, community members school staff who volunteer to conduct walkthrough in the schools in teams using the report-card.
2. We would use the UMDNJ-Safe Schools scientific expertise and equipment to test dust (how much is there and what materials are in it), ventilation, temperature, and humidity. They would also train us to be able to help with this data collection too. The research would be done in a scientifically random sample of 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, and three senior high schools.

Support from School District

The success of this project partly depends on school district involvement and cooperation. With assistance from Suzanne Mack, PCUE-SEOC and Dr. Derek Shendell from UMDNJ held a meeting with a few board members, Dr. Epps, and several of his staff. This meeting was followed by a few emails and telephone conversations. At first, there was concern about parent/community involvement in school walkthrough and data collection and possible public implications for the school district. In our communications, we were able to succinctly address the reservations and concerns expressed by the school district about the project. As a result, Dr Epps agreed to write a letter of support and committed to collaborate with this project.

Jersey City Education Association Supports PCUE-UMDNJ Project

PCUE-SEOC also met with Thomas Favia, President of teacher's local union (Jersey City Education Association) to discuss the proposal and seek their support and collaboration. A second meeting took place with Roy Tamargo who heads the Health and Safety Committee of the union. He was extremely complimentary of PCUE's efforts and achievements and recommended to his union's executive board that they provide a letter of support. The union President did write a letter of support and pledged to collaborate with the project.

A third letter of support which was the easiest part was a letter from our President, LueElla McFadden!

This collaborative effort between PCUE-SEOC and the UMDNJ with support and commitment from the school district and teacher's union has been only possible because of PCUE's year-long campaign to improve health and environmental safety in JC public schools, legitimacy of our demands, outreach to the community and interested parties, and our track record to obtain tangible improvement in the schools, and support from the public.

Thanks to everyone that made the successful completion of this application possible.

Next Step: If our application is approved, our work would begin with a year of planning to start in the fall 2009. This planning we envision would be a collaborative effort among PCUE, UMDNJ, JC school district, and teacher's union.