Re: Video - Crumbling Schools Cause New Concerns

[Guest guest]

Maybe the reason that 'no child left behind' doesn't work. maybe

clean air in schools should be the first consern of our

president.imagion the stress we are putting on our children to do

better when toxins in the air are makeing it harder for them to think

and learn.

>

> Crumbling Schools Cause New Concerns

> Thursday February 1, 2007

> CityNews - Toronto,Canada

>

> http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_7441.aspx

>

> It's a maxim made famous by Santayana: Those who cannot

learn

> from history are doomed to repeat it.

>

> That's a lesson that may be taught in Toronto's public schools. But

> it could also be one those who run them haven't learned.

>

> For the past five years, CityNews has been bringing you stories of

> the disturbing and often disgusting conditions of our crumbling

> schools.

>

> Holes in the wall, water damage, mould, disintegrating

> infrastructure and more have all shown up in large numbers.

>

> It's 2007, but not much has changed.

>

> Our investigation shows the problems are still there and afflicting

> a host of rapidly aging campuses.

>

> At Fern Ave. Public School near Roncesvalles and Dundas, the need

> for a new roof is obvious. Water damage is apparent in spots

> throughout the building.

>

> " It's flowing, " complains principal Craig Tsuji. " It's not just

> dripping, it flows. "

>

> And it's creating a health hazard for young students - especially

> when black mould follows.

>

> And that's not all.

>

> The heating system isn't up to snuff at the west end school. In

> fact, a kindergarten class gets so cold that sometimes the four-

year-

> olds are forced to wear their winter coats inside the building.

>

> The boilers are to blame but replacing them costs $100,000 each.

And

> that's just the start - there are at least $2 million worth of

> repairs in the complex alone.

>

> Other schools are in equally rough shape. Western Tech's bill would

> amount to $13 million if they tried to fix everything.

>

> All tolled throughout the system, the total cost of repairs would

> total just under one billion dollars. And no one has that kind of

> cash.

>

> Officials know about the problem but they simply can't get the

money

> to afford the necessary upkeep. And things could get even worse.

>

> " We're heading into a crisis where we're going to have to shut

down

> schools, " warns trustee Irene Atkinson. " Over the next 15 years we

> are going to need $7.5 billion to keep up with the repairs that are

> required on schools. "

>

> Still, there is some cause for hope. After years of cuts under the

> Tories, the McGuinty government is spending $4 billion to address

> the issue province-wide and there are signs of improvement,

> including new windows installed on Wednesday at Jarvis Collegiate.

>

> But that's just a small ray of sunshine in a world filled with

> darkness.

>

> " Part of the problem is for years boards had to defer maintenance

in

> order to to fund programs so we're trying to make up for lost

time, "

> explains Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

>

> " And we've put this money into the system, the projects are

> underway, there's more coming. And, you know, we had to make a

> start. "

>

> But everyone agrees enough isn't enough. And there's still more to

> do than the budget will allow.

>

> We know the examples in this story are only the tip of a very big

> broken down iceberg. And we'd like you to show us what else is

> wrong.

>

> Use your cell phone camera or your digital device to take a picture

> of a problem in your school and send it to news@...

>

> We'll publish the worst of the worst right here on CityNews.ca in a

> future story and take the evidence to the powers that be to see

what

> they plan to do about it.

>

> To read Education Specialist Mulligan's blog on the

> crumbling conditions on campus, click here.

>