PCUE Demonstrates at School Board Meeting

Jersey City Parents and Communities Demand Healthy Schools

By PCUE member, Jennifer Fasulo
April, 19, 2008

Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE) the most exciting new development in Jersey City citizen action, pulled off an impressive demonstration on Thursday, April 17. About 60 parents, children and communities members showed up to the Jersey City School Board meeting, wearing stickers and carrying signs about their discontent with the city’s slow action on the toxic conditions in JC public schools. Signs in English and Spanish read: Get the Lead Out! Health and Safety Report Card Now! And “Clean water, Clean air, Better Education! Act Now, No more promises! See some of the beautiful photos below.

PCUE member Telissa Dowling addressed the school board during the open comment section and reiterated the group’s four-point proposal to improve health and safety conditions and ensure parent involvement and oversight. She also presented the board with a petition urging Superintendent Epps to adopt the four-point proposals that was signed by about 700 parents and JC residents, including parents from over 30 Jersey City Public Schools.

Even though the event was covered by the Jersey Journal, reporter Paul Koepp only wrote one sentence about our powerful protest. But we who were there know that the real action in the room was the wall of waving signs that filled the bleachers.

Many parents were appalled to learn that while Dr Epps drags his heels and delays taking concrete action to ensure the safety of Jersey City school children, his salary is being increased to the tune of $268,000!!!! As one parent pointed out, “How can he be earning this kind of money, while our children are suffering in the schools? It’s a disgrace!”

PCUE learned the strength of numbers on Thursday. We all felt good and strong taking a stand together. Now we must continue to press our demands until Dr. Epps, the school board and all JC officials know that PCUE means business!

It was great to participate in this action. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. Special thanks to New Jersey Action 21 for bringing so many people out from the Heights!

Pictures: Parents and children Demand Healthy Schools

Pictures from PCUE Protest at the Board of Education Meeting on April 17, 2008

Press Release:PARENTS TELL BOARD: TIME FOR ACTION ON UNSAFE WATER AND AIR IN CITY SCHOOLS

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

Contact:

Telissa Dowling-201-209-1607

Loyda Goldston-973-204-4121

April 10,2008

PARENTS TELL BOARD: TIME FOR ACTION ON UNSAFE WATER AND AIR IN CITY SCHOOLS

On Thursday April 17, 2008, at the regular monthly meeting of the Jersey City Board of Education, Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE) will present over 600 signatures in support of its health and safety proposal to the members of the Board and Superintendent Dr. Charles Epps. This meeting will take place at school No. 11 on Bergen Ave. and Academy St. from 6 to 8pm. Groups of parents from all Jersey City public schools are among the people who have signed the petition. Concerns regarding school health and safety are common among parents as well as many teachers, school staff, and administrators. Recent revelations that high levels of lead were found by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in six Jersey City schools have sparked alarm because, to date, Jersey City Public Schools officials have not announced a timeline to test 39 remaining Jersey City school buildings.

Mrs. Edna William, a grandmother of two children in PS 34 said, “We are going to be at the BOE meeting to make a statement that we need immediate actions, not just promises.” She added, “School officials told us that they would issue report card and notify parents about testing the drinking water. But, as of yet, there are no specific commitments and no dates.”

Another parent, Zaida Oyola, with a child in school number 8, said, “Our children deserve the best. They need to get a great education as well as schools that are healthy. We are determined to safeguard our children’s well-being while they are at school.”

Problem affects thousands

During this academic year thousands of children in our public schools have been exposed to potential health and safety hazards due to unhealthy conditions in their schools. Mold problems caused the sudden shut-down of PS 15 for three weeks. In February, local media revealed high levels of lead in drinking water for six schools (11, 23, 31, 25, 6, 27, and 25), a health hazard that school officials were aware of for more than a year. There are 39 other school buildings that have not yet been tested for lead. Lead exposure in young children can impair children’s cognitive, social, and motor development.

Mold in pre-K trailer classrooms in school 16 is prompting school officials to consider moving students to PS 4, a move that would considerably overcrowd the school while forcing students to travel outside their neighborhood. Many Jersey City children suffer from asthma attacks triggered by their school environment.

PCUE's Proposal for Reform

PCUE has developed a proposal to address health and safety hazards in our public school and urges Dr. Epps and the Jersey City Board of Education to seriously consider and adopt the following four points:

1. Following the U.S. 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.

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 and all Jersey City communities to improve education for our children and create schools that are healthy and safe

A letter from PCUE Leaders to Dr. Epps

Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE)

Jersey City chapter of Statewide Education Organizing Committee (SEOC)

March 17, 2008

Dear Dr. Epps,

We would like to thank you for meeting with our leadership team on March 11, 2008. At the meeting, we presented you with our proposal to create schools that are free from health and environmental hazards. In this letter, we would like to recap the outcome of our meeting with you.

Our proposal and your response were as follows:

1. Communicate to parents and the community the results for testing drinking water and the plans for correcting any identified problems:

We asked that as part of its agreement with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the District provide full and clear information to parents about testing drinking water in schools. This communication would be based on EPA’s guideline of “3Ts” (Training, Testing, and Telling).

In response to our proposal, you stated that the EPA has issued a statement that the district is cooperating with EPA and that the testing of drinking water for all schools would be completed by the end of June. At the meeting we gave you the EPA’s guidelines, and from your statement we understand that your cooperation with EPA would include implementation of their guidelines.

2. Create a standing committee at the Board of Education that will be exclusively responsible for the health and safety of our schools:

We asked that the committee develop and create a comprehensive health and safety plan for our schools, monitor the implementation of the plan, and review the plan as needed. It would also oversee compliance with all NJ workplace and school health and safety laws. The committee would include three parents with voting rights.

You flatly rejected this proposal.

3. Create an Indoor Air Quality Team (IAQT) at the district level following Environmental Protection Agency’s suggested model:

The IAQ Team would include all interested parties including parents. This team would receive some training in air quality inspection. The team would plan and arrange walkthroughs for various schools, identify possible problems, and make recommendations to schools. A Health and Safety Coordinator would facilitate and coordinate the IAQ Team.

You said no to this proposal and added that your staff is already conducting indoor air quality inspections.

4. Establish and enforce the policy that parents have a right to know that the schools their children go to are free from health and environmental hazards:

We asked that Parents receive a regular health and safety report card for the schools their children go to, and it be posted on the district website. Additionally, it would be posted in a visible location in each school. Parents would receive immediate notification in case of any health hazards in their children’s school.

You agreed that you would issue a health and safety report card for each school to parents of children and would post them on the website. You did not give us a timeline as to how often and when the district would send out the first report card.

We want to take this opportunity to urge you to:

· Take the first step and immediately notify parents of children in JC public schools and the community of your timeline for a plan of action to test the drinking water in all schools and to correct any identified problems.

· Issue a school health and safety report card every six months beginning in August 2008.

· We would like to have a copy of the schedule for indoor air quality inspection that you reported your staff is conducting. We would like to see you notify parents about that.

· Reconsider your position in regard to Health and Safety Committee and an Indoor Air Quality Team, both of which include parent involvement.

We also would like to let you know that we were very disappointed to find out that no facility staff person came with you to the meeting although you knew we wanted to speak with you about the Facility Department and the health and safety of our schools.

We hope to receive your written response to our letter by the end of March 2008 so that there is no delay in ensuring the utmost safety of our children.

Sincerely,

EPA's Communication Guidelines with Parents About Testing Drinking Water in Schools

As part of its agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the JC school district has to provide full and clear information to parents about testing drinking water in schools. This communication is based on EPA’s guideline of “3Ts” (Training, Testing, and Telling).

The following communication ideas are listed in EPA’s booklet, 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools.

• The results and the plans for correcting any identified problems will be immediately communicated to parents and the community.

• Parents will be notified how they can obtain detailed information about each school.

• When corrective plans are being implemented, regular progress report will be available to parents and the community.

• If lead is identified in any school, parents, particularly parents of children age 6 or younger, will be directed to seek blood-lead level testing.

• Parents will be notified about the dangers of lead exposure.

• Parents will be assisted to increase awareness about lead exposure.

• One person will be designated to contact parents and be available to answer questions or address concerns expressed by parents.

• This information will be posted on the district’s website, communicated to parents through letters, and through media both in Spanish and English.

PRESS RELEASE: Parents Urge Epps to Address Unsafe School Conditions

For Immediate Release Contacts: Telissa Dowling 201-724-1408

March 18, 2008 Loyda Goldston 973-204-4121

Parents Urge Epps to Address Unsafe School Conditions

On Tuesday March 11, 2008, 14 leaders from Parents and Communities United for Education (PCUE) met with Jersey City school district Superintendent Dr. Charles Epps to express their concern for children’s health while at school and urged him to adopt PCUE’s four-point proposal to make JC schools healthy and free from environmental hazards.

PCUE’s Four-Point Proposal

1. Follow EPA’s communication guidelines and notify parents and the community about the results for testing drinking water in all JC schools and the plans for correcting any identified problems.
2. Create a standing committee at the BOE that will be exclusively responsible for the health and safety of our schools.
3. Create an Indoor Air Quality Team (IAQT) at the district level following Environmental Protection Agency’s suggested model.
4. Establish and enforce the policy that parents have a right to know that the schools their children go to are free from health and environmental hazards.

Daniel Aguilar a parent of two children in school number 25 and 31, both of which have unhealthy levels of lead in their drinking water stated that “Dr. Epps told us that he would follow EPA’s communication guidelines with parents and the community about testing the drinking water in schools. I find that very encouraging, professional, and a sign of willingness to fix the problem. But, I would like him to notify parents and the community what is his timeline for testing and remedying any identified lead problems before the end of this school year.” Mr. Aguilar added “According to the press, the district was told by EPA, in September 2006, about high level of lead in drinking water in my children’s schools. Then, parents were not properly and timely informed. Now, I hope, as Dr. Epps said at the meeting, he would let us know what the district is planning to do – and when.”

Louella McFadden, a great grand parent of a child in school 38, said “I was happy to see that Dr. Epps met with us, but I was dismayed to see that he rejected our proposal to create a health and safety committee and Indoor Air Quality Team, both of which would include parents.”

Another parent, Loyda Goldston with three children in school 34 said “Dr. Epps agreed with our proposal to issue health and safety report cards for each school. PCUE wants to see this report card go to parents every six months starting in August 2008. There should be no delay when it comes to the health and well-being of our children”

Problem affects thousands

In Jersey City, a total 29,288 students (12.5% of Jersey City population), 2,900 teachers, and many other school staff spend an important part of their day in public schools across the city. During this academic year alone, for example, thousands of children in our public schools had unpleasant experiences because of unhealthy conditions in their schools. Mold problems caused the sudden shut-down of PS 15 for three weeks. The latest example was the high levels of lead in drinking water for six schools (11, 23, 31, 25, 6, 27, and 25), a health hazard that school officials were aware of for more than a year. Concerns regarding school health and safety are common among parents. This concern is shared by many teachers, school staff, and administrators.

Call for A Day of Awareness and Action

On April 28, National Day of Healthy Schools, PCUE will join many other cities across the state and the country in community events to educate the public about the urgency of assuring safe water and air conditions in schools and to urge public school officials to improve health and environmental safety of our schools.

PCUE leaders were among parents who successfully got the Board of Education to televise their monthly committee meetings in 2006. PCUE is a grassroots organization of parents, grand parents, and concerned members of the community that is a chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee of NJ.