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09/14/2017 06:24 PMOn August 28, the school year started without access to Branford's Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) pool, main gym, auxiliary gym and locker rooms due to the detection of air-borne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels which could impact students ages 12 and under. As testing and work to restore use of the facilities continues, kids continue gym classes outside, in the heat, in their school clothes – and the Board of Education (BOE) and district central office are hearing from parents who say their kids are being sent back to learn in a sweaty mess.
The PCBs were first detected in August during a pre-construction hazardous building material survey conducted as part of the WIS next-generation building renovation project. On August 25, the town and district made the decision to close the areas, out of an "abundance of caution" (see related story).
Now, parents want to know when the areas will go back on line, and if they will be safe when they do. On Sept. 13, Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez shared that progress is being made, with the locker room areas and main gym hoped to be re-opened by the end of September, followed by the pool and auxiliary gym. To further respond to parents' concerns about the matter, a public Q & A session is set for Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Commons at WIS (185 Damascus Road) with consulting firm Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Inc.
The session was announced Sept. 13 by Hernandez, in a letter posted at the WIS project update site here
At the Sept. 13 BOE meeting, chairman Michael Krause allowed for some responses to questions raised by concerned WIS parents who came out to the meeting. Generally, BOE policy allows public comment but no BOE response during meetings.
As Hernandez noted for the handful of parents who came out to the Sept. 13 meeting, "...we've been fortunate to have very good weather; which of course is a double-edged sword because the students go out and perspire, and they come back in and they don't have an opportunity to change [so] I share your frustration. This is not something of our doing...but we do hope to have it addressed by the end of the month."
"So what are the kids supposed to do, as far as changing into their clothes?" responded one parent. "My daughter ran the mile the other day in her jeans and shirt. I wasn't happy with the fact that my daughter was running a mile in her jeans and shirt."
Hernandez again acknowledged the problem exists. He noted some physical education courses do involve classroom work rather than physical activity. If needed, the indoor Industrial Arts area, which has been closed for the 2017-18 year as part of the WIS next-generation project schedule, may also be used, he said.
"This was unexpected," Hernandez reiterated. "The staff is doing an exceedingly good job in handling a very difficult situation, and I don't think there's a single person in our district that would want this to be unfolding in the way that it is. But we are working very diligently and it's moving very, very quickly."
Hernandez also answered inquiries about the Branford High School (BHS) swim team, which practiced at the WIS pool. He credited Doug Shaw, Executive Director of the Soundview YMCA, for working with coaches to allow the team to practice at the YMCA. As the YMCA doesn't have a diving board, BHS competitive divers are being diverted to a Wallingford pool for practice, said Hernandez.
In his Superintendent's Report to the BOE on Sept. 13, Hernandez shared more news of the WIS clean-up underway.
"As far as the spaces being opened, the priority is the large gym and locker rooms, then the auxiliary gym, [concurrent] with the pool," Herenadez said. "I'd like to pin down an actual date [but] the EPA will not give me a date and the state Department of [Energy and] Environmental Protection will not give me a date. But they are very pleased that we are taking steps that are very proactive and we're in front of this. The report we released today had some good numbers on it."
Another report is expected to follow next week. Report results are posted at the district website project update under "Latest News" here
To improve air quality and lower the PCB level in the gym/pool area to be within EPA guidelines, HVAC systems are being evaluated. Parts have been replaced, units serviced, set points corrected and outdoor air return adjusted, all of which have resulted in improvements, said Hernandez.
He also urged parents to attend the information session on Sept. 21, when additional updated information is also hoped to be available.