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Burlington High School Teachers Concerned About Air Quality

Burlington, Vermont - March 11, 2008

Teachers at Burlington High School are asking the district school board to be more proactive about alleged air quality issues at the school. The Burlington Education Association made its request at a school board meeting on Tuesday night, claiming some staff members are getting sick as a result of poor air.

The issue of air quality at the high school was first raised in 2002, after three teachers were hospitalized with heart problems. Those illnesses were likely a result of poor air circulation, a problem the district says has been dealt with.

Teachers, though, say school administrators have done the bare minimum.

For five years, teachers at Burlington High School say they have been trying to work with the Burlington School District to fix air quality issues. After what teachers say have been failed efforts to be proactive, they are now asking the school board to step in.

"What we are really asking the board to do is start to develop some long term solutions to some of the concerns that have been raised," BEA President Rebecca Smith told the board.

Smith said there are issues with mold and poor air circulation at the school. She said six teachers have experienced rashes because of poor air quality.

The Burlington School District released a statement in response to the concerns. It says three air tests conducted this year by outside contractor ATC Associates, who found no air quality concerns at the school.

"We will continue to work with our administration and committee process and policy development responsibilities to make sure we respond appropriately, rather than act in ways outside of our role," said school board president Thomas Fleury.

Alan Sousie, chairman of the Burlington Board of Health, addressed the board on Tuesday. He says his board has been working with the district to make sure inspections are happening as they are supposed to and to make sure results get proper follow-up.

Sousie says he can understand why the district does not want to throw a lot of money at a problem that has not fully been identified.

"I see the value in their caution but I want to, as a citizen and as the chairman of the Board of Health, I want to nudge it along to make sure it reaches a positive conclusion for all of the faculty, all of the students who are in that building," said Sousie

The school district does acknowledge that two teachers at BHS currently have rashes, but said the ATC air quality reports have been unable to find a link between air quality and the rashes.

Bianca Slota - WCAX News