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The battle goes on at Corona, with alleged misinformation being spread by the school district. This is the typical pattern in the nation, we are sorry to say, often fueled by a desire to cover up unpleasant facts. This is the same district that also allegedly double-carpeted (laid new carpeting over moldy carpeting, we were told), a few years ago. The parents in Tempe, AZ are likely starting to realize that only the strongest measures (including parental removal of their children to safer schools and electing people to the school board who will take action on the IAQ problems) will have an effect on this stand-off. (SMH)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/07/22/20080722corona0722.html
Corona's air quality remains unclear
District letter, Web site report conflicting data
by Dianna M. Náñez - Jul. 22, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Tempe Union High School District Superintendent Steve Adolph sent parents a letter Friday about the environmental conditions at Corona del Sol High School that touts "a healthier learning environment" and appears to conflict with some of the data posted on the district's Web site.
The letter says, "All asbestos tests have come back with a 'negative' result."
However, a May report published on the district's Web site detailing asbestos testing done by environmental consultant Prime Consulting Inc. says that "of the 49 samples collected from the identified areas, 10 were found to be positive for asbestos content." The asbestos was found in piping in canopy areas outside the school, in piping above the ceiling tiles in the school's cafeteria hallway and outdoor canopy roofing areas.
A question-and-answer section on the district's Web site also says asbestos was found at the school.
Linda Littell, a district spokeswoman, said the asbestos found at Corona was removed and that the letter was referring to the fact that it is no longer there.
But Corona parent DeAnne Clowes said she was outraged to read the letter, which says the district is working to "resolve identified air-quality issues at Corona."
"I think they're trying to gloss over and cover up the information," she said. "They've tested that one area and found asbestos and cleaned it; that's what they should have told parents."
For the past month, Clowes has asked district officials to post the results of the asbestos test on the district Web site. The district has used the site to post reports and district communications outlining plans to battle Corona's problems with mold, elevated carbon-dioxide levels and other air-quality issues.
When Clowes did not get a response, she e-mailed Tempe Union governing board members. At a board meeting earlier this month, Bob Anderson, a district plant operations director, told the board that the report was mislabeled and accidentally left off the site but that it had since been posted.
At the meeting, Clowes asked the district to guide her to the report. After the meeting, a district official walked Clowes through the site and acknowledged he still could not find the report.
It was later posted.
Adolph's letter to parents also says that environmental consultant Health Effects Group completed testing of carpet materials and adjacent walls and found "small amounts of mold (two- to three-square-inch spots) were identified at five locations on the campus."
However, the Health Effects report on the district Web site says that what was found in the school's faculty-eating area amounted to "approximately 20 linear feet of water damage and visible (fungal) growth."
The district has said the mold has since been removed. It has not released data on exactly what types of mold were found.
The final paragraph of the letter says that "students will see new flooring in a facility that has been thoroughly cleaned and tested."
However, Arizona Department of Health Services officials have said that while they expect the removal of double layers of carpeting throughout the school to improve air quality, they will not thoroughly test the school for mold and carbon-dioxide levels until the first few weeks of school, sometime in August.
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mwolffrancisJul-22 @ 8:21 AM Report abuse69
Superintendent Adolph has lost all credibility in the eyes of the community. He should be fired for publishing bold-faced lies to the parents at Corona in order to cover up a tragically unhealthy environment. I suggest the School Board take immediate disciplinary action against Mr. Adolph as a means to demonstrate their commitment to protect the community that elected them. Anything less will be a sign they have abandoned their post.
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CdSmomx2Jul-22 @ 7:36 PM Report abuse55
WHEN is this man going to be held ACCOUNTABLE??? At the very least, he is an embarrassment to the district he serves and at the worst he is compromising the health and safety of our children and the staff who have loyally served at Corona del Sol. Does the governing board NOT SEE THIS?!
Their constituents can certainly hold THEM accountable...by replacing them with individuals who will actually SERVE their constituents by ACTING in the best interest of the constituents! It is time that they have OUR backs, rather than our dangerously incompetent superintendent's. They remind me of the squatting monkeys, one with its hands over its eyes, another with its hands over its ears, and the last with its hands over its mouth. I think that image pretty much says it all.
(Mr. Adolph, why don't you do us all a favor and RESIGN! ! !)
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