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Autistic kids face asbestos at Rockaways elementary school

Go to the NY Daily News url below and see a picture of the the cafeteria. You will be shocked. One can guess why the new Queens Collegiate: A College Board School or any of the new boutique small schools aren't moving into this building.

By Meredith Koloner

They knew their school was dilapidated. They didn't know it might be dangerous.

Parents of children at Public School 256 in the Rockaways are just discovering that the peeling paint, crumbling plaster and broken tiles throughout the school are laden with asbestos, a Department of Education report shows.

"They're always taking the back-door approach when it comes to us," said Albert Hiller, whose 7-year-old son, James Joel, attends the school for children with autism or severe emotional disorders.

"It's horrible, especially when you're dealing with kids with disabilities," he said.

"They don't need anything else to hinder them."

Hiller, president of the parents' association, said he appreciates the care and instruction his son gets at the school, but was shocked to find out about the potentially hazardous conditions.

Many old school buildings contain asbestos.

The material is only dangerous when it becomes airborne and can lead to deadly forms of cancer.

Federal law mandates regular school inspections and a plan to contain asbestos when it is discovered.

Teachers in the building say that education officials toured the building in July and made note of the disrepair.

Still, 60 staff and 120 children were allowed to stay in the site until the end of the summer session last week.

DOE officials will be meeting tomorrow to review the situation.

"We only open safe schools," DOE spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said.

Teachers union President Randi Weingarten questioned why the DOE recently bought the building.

"I'm deeply disappointed that the DOE missed all the warning signs that ought to be in place to stop the purchase of a building like this," she said.

Union officials are worried about possible lead paint contamination, which has been linked to learning problems.

"These children are already dealing with developmental problems," said Claire Barnett, executive director of the Healthy Schools Network.

"Those parents have the right to see evidence that the school is safe."

Asbestos illnesses don't become apparent for decades, according to Mount Sinai School of Medicine pediatrician Philip Landrigan.

"Nothing will happen this year, nothing will happen next year," he said.

"But something could happen a long time from now, which is why it's important to have an aggressive plan."

Teachers have complained about falling ceiling panels and lack of heat in the winter for years, said veteran PS 256 teacher Hans Marryshow.

"We knew it was more than uncomfortable, but we didn't think our health was in danger."


— Meredith Koloner
New York Daily News
2008-08-18
https://nydailynews.com/news/2008/08/18/2008-08-18_autistic_kids_face_asbestos_at_rockaways.html

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