Parents of first‑grade students at Carnegie Elementary School are demanding transparency from the district after their children were relocated from the classroom to the library twice within a few days. The school district says air‑quality testing showed no hazardous conditions, but parents say they have not seen any written results.
Parents raise health concerns
Shakaila Waugh received an email on Nov. 3 stating that air‑quality tests confirmed the classroom was safe. Her daughter later reported that a faculty member told the class they had to move to the library for the rest of the week because the room was unsafe. Two days later, on Nov. 5, students were again pulled from the classroom and placed in the library.
Waugh says her daughter has experienced vomiting, dizziness, nausea and constant headaches. She says several other students have reported similar symptoms, and the classroom’s teacher has also called out sick. “I’d like to see hard copies of our test results,” Waugh said. “I’ve only been told there was a verbal review. What tests were done? What company performed them?”
Another family reports similar issues
April Hawk echoed Waugh’s concerns, noting her son has missed six days of school because of the same symptoms. Hawk pointed to construction activity near the school, describing “huge dust clouds” and the smell of diesel from vehicles staged along the exterior of her son’s classroom. She wonders whether air intake from that location could be worsening conditions inside the room.
District response
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeff Taylor issued a statement saying the environmental assessment included testing and monitoring of airborne particulates, temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. “No conditions were identified that warranted remediation or required students or staff to be removed from the classroom,” Taylor said. He added that the environmental professional indicated the identified conditions would not be expected to cause symptoms such as nausea, headaches, or dizziness.
What parents are asking for
Both families are requesting written documentation of the testing methodology, the lab or company that performed the analysis, and the specific results. They say that without this information, they cannot be assured that the classroom environment is truly safe for their children.
The district has not yet provided the requested documentation, and the situation remains a point of contention between parents and school officials.
Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.
