Corona to get independent air study, Az Governor involved

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Corona to get independent air study

by Dianna M. Náñez - Jun. 11, 2008 06:28 PM

The Arizona Republic

Months of lobbying and pleading from parents, students and teachers has

moved a bipartisan effort between Arizona's _Democrat_

(http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/11/20080611corona0612.html#)

governor, Republican

speaker of the House and legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Tuesday,Gov. Janet Napolitano responded to a letter sent from House Speaker

Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix, last week urging her to fund environmental testing of

Tempe's Corona del Sol High School.

In her letter, Napolitano thanked Weiers for his and other _Republican_

(http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/11/20080611corona0612.html#)

District 20 legislators' concern about Corona's air quality.

" I am encouraged to hear from you that legislators are working with both the

district and the parent(s) . . . , " she wrote.

According to the letter, Napolitano has directed Arizona Department of

Health Services officials to contract an expert to create a plan to help

improve

the school's air quality.

Parents who have asked for an independent expert to test Corona will also

get their wish.

" The independent expert will also be contracted to perform indoor and

outdoor airborne mold tests and to measure carbon dioxide concentrations in all

of

the high school buildings, " she wrote.

Jeanine L'Ecuyer, a Napolitano spokeswoman, said the governor has also sent

the Legislature the statutory changes necessary to allow the state to loan

Tempe Union High School District money to upgrade Corona's ventilation system

and improve the air quality.

" I urge you and your colleagues to take action to pass this language so that

immediate action can be taken, " Napolitano wrote in her letter.

Barrett Marson, a spokesman for the House _Republicans_

(http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/11/20080611corona0612.html#) ,

said Weiers

appreciated Napolitano's prompt response and confirmed that the Legislature is

reviewing the statutory changes. He said he thought state leaders were in

agreement

that funds for the " health and safety of Corona students " needed to be made

available in the next month.

Will Humble, an assistant DHS director, said he and his staff began working

Wednesday to find a contractor and hope to soon coordinate a full visual

inspection of the school.

" That's the first step. We want to see under the carpets and check above the

tiles for water damage. We hope to be in there by mid-summer, " he said.

Corona parent Doering said she has " cautious hope " that the

school's air quality problems will finally be solved. She has transferred her

daughter out of Corona. Emilie has asthma, she said, and Doering wanted to be

sure

that the poor air quality did not trigger health problems.

" Corona's a great school. It's my hope she can go back, " she said.

Doering said it has been a long haul over the past months working with

parents, students and teachers who formed the Corona Clean Air Coalition to get

the district to allow independent testing. The latest bipartisan political

effort on behalf of staff and students is inspiring, she said.

" People kept saying, 'Oh, it's just parents being extreme. It's not extreme

to ask that your kids are safe in schools that the public's taxes are paying

for, " she said. " This state's leaders helped by deciding they weren't going

to risk the kids' health anymore. "

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