by David Flint
Meeting with a group of parents and others concerned about lead paint at Berlin Elementary School, attorney Peter Danziger said that pressure put on the Berlin Central School District Board and Superintendent had resulted in a “360 degree change” in their approach, but he urged that parents be prepared to keep the pressure on. Danziger, of the Albany law firm O’Connell and Aronowitz, told the group gathered last Friday evening at the Bridgeway Restaurant in Cherry Plain that the school’s approach had changed within a week from being defensive but contending that everything was under control to meeting with key players and initiating an action plan starting with a full assessment by a Certified Risk Assessor. Danziger said he was encouraged by the District’s action plan and pleased with the hiring of the Risk Assessor, Andrew McClellan of Environmental Education Associates, one that he had recommended. He expected that the Assessor’s report, which will be completed within a week, will confirm very serious lead hazards in and around the school. It will include recommendations for an action plan that will require some immediate and difficult decisions by the Board as to how to handle the containment or remediation, whether the school should stay open and what to do with the children. He pledged to stay involved and help parents keep the school board and administration “on the right track.” The long range solution to problems with the District and its buildings, he said, would be up to the community.
Blood Testing
Danziger said he knew of 20 children who had up to that time had their blood tested for lead and none had high levels, but he said we would not know for sure how bad the problem is until all the children have been tested, especially those in the four to seven year age group. The school, he said, is going to arrange for blood testing free of charge for the children and parents should have confidence in the results reported to them.
Communications Director James Church, representing State Senator Roy McDonald, said the Senator was just becoming aware of the situation and believed it important that his office be involved. He said he had already spoken with officials at the State Education Department (SED), Rensselaer County and the School District. His office, he said, could be helpful in working through the bureaucracy. He said he understood the frustration and anger that people had and pledged that he would be diplomatic but, “We will try to be a sledge hammer for you.”
Not News To Officials
Jennifer Goodermote was outraged that apparently officials have known about the lead problem for years. She said that she had sent an email about the situation to Carl Thurnau, SED Director of Facilities and received a reply indicating that SED had been aware of the issues at BES for some time and that the referendum that was voted down last year would have eliminated all lead issues from the school. Thurnau went on to say, “There have been no significant capital projects in the District for 20 years. Unfortunately, it shows.”
Danziger agreed that there is evidence that people in charge knew about chipping paint with lead in it as far back as 2001 when a project to restore the clock tower included lead abatement. Then in 2008 a lead test of paint chips from the columns in the front of the building showed high levels of lead.
Julie Harrell said she had pushed some years ago for lead and asbestos testing at BES and to have the ventilation system fixed but the Board had other agenda and she was ignored. Now, she said, there is lead in the air, and the windows are being kept closed. She and others at the meeting insisted it was most important to get the children out of the building while any abatement is being done and they demanded that the results of the risk assessment be made public as soon as it is completed. Some wondered why Child Protection Services does not come and take the children away as they would do from a private home where such hazards are found. Others suggested that the children be outsourced to surrounding school districts. James Church said that it is more likely that the State will decide to bring in modular buildings in which the children can continue to attend school.