Health Department finds no significant issues at Vets Jr. High

By Tessa Roy
Posted 1/31/17

After a walkthrough of the school on Monday, the State Department of Health “did not observe any evidence of a significant public health issue in the building” at Warwick Vets, according to a …

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Health Department finds no significant issues at Vets Jr. High

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After a walkthrough of the school on Monday, the State Department of Health “did not observe any evidence of a significant public health issue in the building” at Warwick Vets, according to a statement from Joseph Wendelken, the Department’s Public Information Officer. The statement released Monday went on to say no further action would be recommended, but that “the department will support the district’s independent decision to conduct air quality testing by coordinating with the company they hire and working with the school on next steps, if any are deemed necessary.”

Claims of mold, drastic temperature variations, and student sickness as a result of these and other reported issues at the school, specifically the 900 wing, sparked the walkthrough and a statement from Superintendent Philip Thornton saying air quality testing at Warwick Vets will be conducted. His secretary Cathy Bonang said the School Committee already has three or four bids from companies to conduct air quality testing and the School Committee would vote on the matter at their next meeting on February 7.

“We have a professional air quality expert on our team who is following all federal and state guidelines. We meet all federal and state air quality measures,” Thornton’s statement said. “Still, we will be conducting air quality testing in the coming weeks and make those results public as soon as they are available.”

Thornton also said the 62-year-old heating system is in “dire need of repair” and that the plan is to replace it as soon as possible.

“We in Warwick are committed to providing the best environment for all of our students and staff,” he said.

School Committee Member Karen Bachus, Councilwoman Donna Travis and Bachus’ campaign manager Judy Cobden toured the school with Vets Principal David Tober on Thursday. The Beacon was not permitted to accompany them (Thornton said on Monday that all media requests need to go through the superintendent’s office), but Cobden and Bachus later told the paper that they had headaches and felt physically unwell after spending two hours inside the school.

“In the 900 wing, we were really, really not feeling good. You could taste the air. There’s something going on,” Bachus said.

Cobden added that she went to CVS after she left the school to pick up sinus tablets.

Parents have been vocally reporting issues as well. Justin Puckett said he didn’t have any major concerns until his daughter announced one night at dinner that she’d be bringing a blanket to school with her the next day as the teachers were opening windows to help refresh the air.

“It didn’t make sense to me that that would be the district recommendation,” Puckett said.

After some phone calls and requests, Puckett obtained a copy of a report from Environmental/Safety Coordinator Phillip Ricchiuti. The report said that Ricchiuti “did not observe mold” but in certain areas said “when possible, open windows to bring in fresh air” and, in other areas, “to improve ventilation, windows should be open during occupancy.”

Puckett said his daughter has complained of strange smells and headaches, but he’s not sure if those are directly from her being in the building. However, he is concerned that it will affect the long-term health of his daughter and her fellow students if they are breathing in anything dangerous.

Others do believe their children have had ailments that related to being inside the Vets building. Jackie Santos Mitchell said her son has had a cough and stuffy nose since he started at the school but that during school vacation he was fine.

“I know my son’s sicknesses have to be from that school. I have three other children who did not catch anything from him and every time anyone has something contagious it goes around my whole house. It had to have been from him going to that school and having some kind of reaction in the school,” she said.

In addition, Mitchell said her nephew was one of the kids who recently had to be taken to the ER because he was coughing up blood. She said the boy felt like he could breathe better once he got outside of the school and later was diagnosed with strep throat.

Parent Kelly Powers said her daughter has experienced difficulties as well. She said her daughter complains of stomachaches, dizziness, headaches, congestion, coughing, burning eyes, sore throats and breathing issues, and that her symptoms also were alleviated during winter vacation.

“Visually, you see water damaged ceilings and smell musty aroma throughout the school,” she said. “My daughter is in honors classes and is making high honors. However, she struggles to get through each day.”

Powers said her daughter has been out sick 15 times this year, uses inhalers, has been on three different antibiotics and has had to take several trips to the doctor.

Parent Shannon Napolitano, who said her daughter has also been sick, was frustrated by many issues but also by what she said was a lack of communication about the window issue.

“Where was the robocall letting parents know this was happening? Giving us the option to understand or question if needed? Therefore, maybe telling the kids that are chilly to dress warm, layers, etcetera or whatever was needed?” she said.

Bachus and Cobden said that conditions in the school make a case for the passage of the $85 million bond that needs City Council and other approval before going to a vote in November.

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    Wow, Shocking ! Donna Travis actually entered a high school for the first time, having never been inside one as a student. Did she ask what the books were?

    Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    There can only be one explanation why the Department of Health didn't observe the hundreds of health issues that teachers, students, parents, Karen Bachus of the School Committee, Donna Travis of the City Council and every other intelligent person in the Warwick have encountered.

    They must have gone to the wrong school.

    There is no other explanation. Politics couldn't be the reason.............................................could it?

    Bachus, Travis and others have long championed the march against these intolerable school conditions going above and beyond what they are being paid to do. No heat. Black mold. Brown water in the faucets. Buildings that are literally falling down. They saw it first hand. So did parents, students etc. Are all these people wrong? I don't think so. I think it's a cover-up. I think it is the Mayors responsibility. I think the solution needs to come from him and it's not in the form of raising taxes. 16 years of annual tax increases haven't helped this issue one bit. If he gets the teachers contract settled (and I credit him for the recent effort) Warwick will encourage students to stay rather than leave. More students means more taxpayers, which means more total tax revenue, a win-win-win for us all. Cranston "cut taxes" and their population exploded. So did their total tax revenue. We should learn from them before their population grows higher than ours. We have lost 5,800 taxpayers and 4,666 businesses in the last 10 years. "Cut taxes - Cut spending" and I promise we will get some back and the extra tax revenue will help pay for the necessary repairs that we all know are desperately needed............................except the people who got politically appointed jobs at the Health Department . (Doesn't it make you wonder what school they actually went to?)

    Happy Spring everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Report this

  • patientman

    Friends are under contract on a house in Warwick now. I will tell them if they plan on having kids to move to EG. Less house, better life.

    Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this

  • Linda51

    I had a substitute assignment at Warwick Vets Middle School the other day. I had subbed there in the beginning of the school year but haven't been back until recently. As soon as I walked into the school, at the entrance by the 900 wing, I immediately detected mold in the air. I have a severe allergy to mold so I knew what to look for. My assignment was in the D wing, 1st floor. After being in my scheduled room for about 20 mins, I started with the itchy eyes, coughing and scratching. I visited another room and talked to one of the teacher's there and she told me that many of her school kids had been out numerous times because of sinus problems and related respiratory problems. She said that she has to keep the window open most of the time to air it out. I went back to my room and opened all the windows. Believe me, it got really cold, but I would rather be cold than not be able to breathe!

    I went into another classroom that had the heat on and it was very stuffy. Within about 15 mins, I started to have problems with my breathing. I went to the nurse to see if she had Benadryl but she didn't. I had some in my car, which I took. (I will use Benadryl as a catch all instead of my Epipen when I can). It definitely helped relieve some of the symptoms. I stayed the whole day, but probably shouldn't have as when I went home after school, and the Benadryl wore off, I was covered in hives and had to use my rescue inhaler. I had to wash all my clothing and even my back pack. It is now Thursday and the hives finally went away. I am still using my rescue inhaler as I am having difficulty breathing.

    While I was in school, the air quality was being measured. I told one of the workers that there definitely was mold in the air and I showed him one of my hives. He was shocked.

    I can't believe that the Warwick School Department thinks that the air is fine at Warwick Vets! This is a danger to the students, staff and teachers. They may have health issues now, but if the air quality is not fixed, there could be worse problems down the road. Opening the windows is not the answer. It is a quick fix. And, students shouldn't have to bring blankets to school to stay warm so they can learn!

    I won't be subbing at Warwick Vets Middle School anymore until the air quality problem is fixed. Maybe it's the heating system, maybe it's the black mold around some of the windows or maybe it's just that the school is in need of major repairs. But, whatever the problem is, it needs to be fixed immediately. Our students (and staff) need a clean, healthy and safe environment to learn and right now, that is not being met at Warwick Vets. Someone has to stand up for these kids!

    Linda

    Thursday, March 2, 2017 Report this