District refuses to release study on Corona del Sol health issues

[Guest guest]

District refuses to release study on Corona del Sol health issues

Dianna M. Náñez

The Arizona Republic,Phoenix,AZ*

May. 15, 2008

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0515corona051

5.html

Tempe Union High School District officials said they will not

provide parents the results of a health study showing Corona del Sol

High School students and staff reported more health problems than

their peers at another Tempe school.

The district is distancing itself from the health study done to

track reports of health problems typically related to poor air

quality.

The study showed Corona students and staff reported significantly

higher rates of respiratory problems, fatigue, headaches, migraines

and other health issues compared with students and staff at Marcos

de Niza High School.

Jim , an Arizona State University professor and Corona parent,

said he volunteered to help the district develop a questionnaire to

survey reported health problems.

said he worked with Jim Denton, district associate

superintendent. He said the district directed him also to work with

Mark Van Ert of Health Effects Group, an environmental consultant

that tested the school in 2006 and found poor air quality and mold

and carbon dioxide levels that exceeded state standards.

But Littell, a district spokeswoman, said Tuesday that '

study was done independently of the district.

In a statement released Tuesday, the district said " Dr. '

report " was " misguided. "

However, prior district statements and a letter to parents

acknowledge the survey was planned as a joint effort.

A letter signed by Superintendent Steve Adolph dated March 6

outlined district efforts to improve air quality, and states: " We

are working with Health Effects Group and an ASU professor (and

Corona parent) to conduct a health questionnaire to evaluate the

incidents of health complaints at the school. " The letter is posted

on the district Web site.

Littell said parents calling about the study would be given the

district's statement but " we're not going to release this study

through district communication. "

The district statement suggests parents worried that Corona's air

might negatively affect " their children who may have pre-existing

problems " should consult a doctor. The district also states it will

work with parents who want to transfer their child.

Debi Moreash, a parent of former Corona students, said the

district's choice not to release the study is irresponsible. She

said parents are still angry the district knew about air-quality

problems for at least a year before formally notifying parents in

December.

Moreash's son Dylan was diagnosed with a tumor and lost vision in

his eye as a result of the tumor. Moreash said her son might never

know if the school's air is linked to his illness. But she had hoped

the district's recent admission that it should have been more open

in the past about air-quality problems was a sign the district would

not make the same mistakes.

presented the results at a Corona PTO meeting Saturday to

about 100 parents.

He said going public was a tough decision considering the district

requested he wait until the study was presented to the Tempe Union

governing board.

But said the delay would have meant the information would not

be shared until after school was out, giving parents and employees

little time to make decisions about transferring.

said he commends the district for its efforts to improve air

quality, and he hopes officials reconsider the decision not to

release the report. He said he understands the district's concern

about students and staff over-reporting their illnesses. But the

margin of error the bias might have created, he added, would likely

have little effect on the results because the rates of reported

illnesses were so significant.

said he hopes the state will now consider Corona's air quality

an emergency and fund the estimated $11 million to $12 million

needed to upgrade Corona's ventilation system.

The Arizona School Facilities Board had denied the district

emergency funds to make the repairs, and legislative attempts to

provide funding have also failed.

[Guest guest]

coronacleanair.org

_____

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of tigerpaw2c

Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 7:39 AM

Subject: [] District refuses to release study on Corona del Sol

health issues

District refuses to release study on Corona del Sol health issues

Dianna M. Náñez

The Arizona Republic,Phoenix,AZ*

May. 15, 2008

http://www.azcentra

<http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0515corona051>

l.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0515corona051

5.html

Tempe Union High School District officials said they will not

provide parents the results of a health study showing Corona del Sol

High School students and staff reported more health problems than

their peers at another Tempe school.

The district is distancing itself from the health study done to

track reports of health problems typically related to poor air

quality.

The study showed Corona students and staff reported significantly

higher rates of respiratory problems, fatigue, headaches, migraines

and other health issues compared with students and staff at Marcos

de Niza High School.

Jim , an Arizona State University professor and Corona parent,

said he volunteered to help the district develop a questionnaire to

survey reported health problems.

said he worked with Jim Denton, district associate

superintendent. He said the district directed him also to work with

Mark Van Ert of Health Effects Group, an environmental consultant

that tested the school in 2006 and found poor air quality and mold

and carbon dioxide levels that exceeded state standards.

But Littell, a district spokeswoman, said Tuesday that '

study was done independently of the district.

In a statement released Tuesday, the district said " Dr. '

report " was " misguided. "

However, prior district statements and a letter to parents

acknowledge the survey was planned as a joint effort.

A letter signed by Superintendent Steve Adolph dated March 6

outlined district efforts to improve air quality, and states: " We

are working with Health Effects Group and an ASU professor (and

Corona parent) to conduct a health questionnaire to evaluate the

incidents of health complaints at the school. " The letter is posted

on the district Web site.

Littell said parents calling about the study would be given the

district's statement but " we're not going to release this study

through district communication. "

The district statement suggests parents worried that Corona's air

might negatively affect " their children who may have pre-existing

problems " should consult a doctor. The district also states it will

work with parents who want to transfer their child.

Debi Moreash, a parent of former Corona students, said the

district's choice not to release the study is irresponsible. She

said parents are still angry the district knew about air-quality

problems for at least a year before formally notifying parents in

December.

Moreash's son Dylan was diagnosed with a tumor and lost vision in

his eye as a result of the tumor. Moreash said her son might never

know if the school's air is linked to his illness. But she had hoped

the district's recent admission that it should have been more open

in the past about air-quality problems was a sign the district would

not make the same mistakes.

presented the results at a Corona PTO meeting Saturday to

about 100 parents.

He said going public was a tough decision considering the district

requested he wait until the study was presented to the Tempe Union

governing board.

But said the delay would have meant the information would not

be shared until after school was out, giving parents and employees

little time to make decisions about transferring.

said he commends the district for its efforts to improve air

quality, and he hopes officials reconsider the decision not to

release the report. He said he understands the district's concern

about students and staff over-reporting their illnesses. But the

margin of error the bias might have created, he added, would likely

have little effect on the results because the rates of reported

illnesses were so significant.

said he hopes the state will now consider Corona's air quality

an emergency and fund the estimated $11 million to $12 million

needed to upgrade Corona's ventilation system.

The Arizona School Facilities Board had denied the district

emergency funds to make the repairs, and legislative attempts to

provide funding have also failed.