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Our comment on this AZ Republic article, "Corona parents learn about disability law" (below), describing how Corona del Sol parents (Tempe, AZ) are seeking accommodations for their ill, disabled children that they are still sending to a sick, toxic high school. We encourage parents to immediately remove their children and find an alternative setting so these kids have a chance to be healthy in the future. What good is an education if one loses one's health, in the process? The Corona parents have worked hard to try to get the school building fixed, which is a losing battle, in this case. They need to work harder, to rescue their children from this toxic school, immediately. The school can then be torn down and rebuilt for future students, as a healthy building, with parent insistence. Sick schools cannot be fixed with bandaid approaches, such as are being employed at Corona del Sol. Sick children cannot attend toxic schools with this history, it is impossible to remove all the toxins and spores. Air cleaners will absolutely NOT help.
"Why are Corona del Sol parents STILL sending their kids to a school proven to be so unhealthy as to disable them - where some have even died from asthma attacks? These parents should be finding alternative schools for their children. What kind of parent would deliberately expose their children to these dangers? It is time to stop playing "nice in the sandbox" and start protecting your children by removing them." (SMH)
Corona parents learn about disability law
by Dianna M. Náñez - Aug. 21, 2008 05:26 PM
The Arizona Republic 7 comments
http://www.azcentra
l.com/news/
articles/
2008/08/21/
20080821tr-
coronabreathe082
2.html
The Arizona Republic
A handful of parents came to Corona del Sol High School Wednesday to hear
administrators offer an overview of students' rights under a federal
disability law.
Ben McCawley, Tempe-Chandler Parent Teacher Student Association president,
said Anna Chalmers, a PTSA member and parent of a child in Corona's
special-needs program, asked for the meeting.
McCawley said he wanted the district to consider how Corona's poor indoor
air quality affects the health and education ofchildren with asthma,
respiratory or other health issues prtected under the law. Parents we re not
sent a letter home notifying them of the meeting. Instead, Tempe Union High
School District posted notice of the meeting to discuss Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act on its Web site.
Section 504 protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs
and activities that are federally funded. People protected under this law
include those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services' description of major life activities includes caring for one's
self, breathing, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking or learning.
One Corona parent who attended the meeting but would not give her name
because she worried identifying herself may impact her child's pending 504
request, said she learned a lot about how to advocate for her child. She
said she wished the school had made more parents aware of the meeting.
"This was very helpful. I now know that there are lots of options for my
child, even besides the 504," she said. "They should give this presentation
at the end of every year."
Randy Lazar, a Tempe Union director of educational services, informed
parents about the 504 application, the eligibility process, accommodations
that can be made to help eligible students and protections in addition to
504 procedures, which are available to students with qualifying health,
mental, physical, learning or other disabilities.
Carbon-dioxide levels that exceeded state standards have plagued Corona. The
district has made renovations that they hope will improve the air quality
temporarily over the coming year, while they install an upgraded heating and
ventilation air-conditioning system. The district has said the HVAC system's
inability to circulate fresh air is causing an array of air-quality and
environmental problems.
Lazar said asthma can be one of the health issues protected under a 504, but
an evaluation by a team that includes parents and educators must first
determine whether a student's health issue is "substantially" affecting the
student's ability to learn.
"The 504 team . . . looks at grades . . . doctor's recommendation . . . the
unique needs for that individual child. You also have to look at what kind
of accommodations might need to be made," he said.
Dr. Doris J. Rapp, a pediatric allergist and environmental illness
specialist who attended the meeting, said parents should take the air
quality in Corona seriously. She said Corona parents whose children have
allergies or are exhibiting other health issues should consult with the
school and discuss 504 or other accommodations.
High carbon-dioxide levels can be an indicator of other environmental
toxins, she said.
"High CO{-2} often means there is a high level of chemicals, too," she said.
Cleaning products, perfumes, glues and other chemicals can become
concentrated in buildings with poor ventilation and people can develop
severe allergies, she said.
Rapp said sometimes something as simple asking the school to use an air
purifier can greatly improve the environment.
Holly Secor, a Corona administrator, said she encouraged parents to talk to
their child's teacher.
"There are lots of minor adjustments we can make. It's not a dead end if you
don't get a 504 . . . we still want to make sure children have the best
learning environment,
" she said.
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Comments posted on AZ Republic:
arizonamarkAug-21 @ 7:15 PM Posted on the website. Hmmm....and how long before the meeting was it posted?
chalasAug-21 @ 7:25 PM Thank you to Mr. Lazar and the other administrators for this presentation. It was by far the most informative 90 minutes that I have attended through the TUHSD. Many parents concerned about their children absentee totals at the end of last school year asked around for information on 504 and alternatives. My daughter has an IEP for her disability, and gratefully does not suffer from any illnesses that keep her from attending school.
Most were unaware of the other various avenues that formalized ahead of time to avoid the year-end scramble for Doctor’s notes. Mr. Lazar educated the group on various alternatives such as chronic illness notation on the student file, which allows for 11 to 60 days absent; homebound services for periods of 3 months or more. For example: a student with severe asthma or allergies can have that noted on their files, all their teachers will be able to see such a notation. The excused absence from the Doctor can be completed quarterly and avoid the rush at the end of the school year.
The handouts and PowerPoint presentation educated all in attendance of the steps necessary to make the right decision based on an individual case. Mr. Lazar was kind enough to provide us with extra copies of the presentation and the 504 handbook, should other parents ask about the procedures.
The open question and answer period at the end was engaging, and for many in attendance, a sense of can do and open communication, was the message we all walked away with.
chalasAug-21 @ 7:31 PM
arizonamark.....it was sent to the TCPTSA by email on Aug 7from the District, on the District website the same day, and on the school website the following day......not bad.
sparticleAug-21 @ 8:23 PM
Politicians may talk about family values and kiss babies but the reality is that once they are elected the issues that affect us the most, including education are immediately relegated to lowest priority. When you consider how many millions of dollars are wasted, it is pathetic that a child cannot even depend on having a school environment where the air is safe to breathe.
SGTROCKAug-22 @ 6:33 AM
Hamster balls for everyone!
NoMoreMoldAug-22 @ 11:55 AM
Why are Corona del Sol parents STILL sending their kids to a school proven to be so unhealthy as to disable them - where some have even died from asthma attacks? These parents should be finding alternative schools for their children. What kind of parent would deliberately expose their children to these dangers? It is time to stop playing "nice in the sandbox" and start protecting your children by removing them.
NoMoreMoldAug-22 @ 11:58 AM
Go to www.schoolmoldhelp.org for information on why this is the only recourse for a school proven to be unhealthy - one with a strong history of water-damage, mold, high carbon-dioxide and chemical levels, poor indoor air quality - due to its DESIGN, for decades. The damage is already done. Fixing the design won't remove the toxins nor the molds. Visit our Information - Sick Building Symptoms and Mold Remediation pages.
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