Could air quality at Sippican School be responsible for exacerbating some teachers’ allergies, causing migraines, and making them sick? Air quality test results suggest no, but at least 12 Sippican teachers affected say ‘yes,’ and they are asking the Marion School Committee to allow the state to take its own air quality samples.
Representative for the Marion Teachers Association and Health and Safety Committee member Nicole Boussy said on February 3 that the issue of air quality at Sippican School has been ongoing for a number of years, and the group is now ready to take whatever steps it needs to find relief.
“I myself have experienced watching a teacher cough up blood due to the air quality within the building,” said Boussy. “I have a number of teachers who have diagnosed mold allergies that they are attributing to the air quality within the building.”
Teachers say one section of the first floor is the main area for poor air quality.
School Business Administrator Patrick Spencer told the committee an independent lab had tested the school for poor air quality, with samples taken throughout the building. Levels came up with a count of 39, which is below the threshold of 100.
Spencer said the teachers have now asked the school district to allow the state to enter the building to take its own air quality samples, which Spencer called “a little redundant.”
“There’s nothing wrong with doing it, but we just wanted guidance from the committee” Spencer said. “They raised a concern and we take it seriously.”
Spencer said no students have made complaints; however, Boussy argued that children are in fact affected.
“Children in that building as well experience some of the same things the teachers are experiencing,” said Boussy. “…We’re just hoping that we can work together … to have somebody come in and look.”
Boussy said the group hired an attorney through the Massachusetts Teachers Association who has looked through the report. The attorney pointed out several factors, including indoor mold species distribution, which could be affecting the school staff.
Boussy said Principal Lyn Rivet has been open and supportive throughout.
“Because of their concern for one another and the children of Marion, we are prepared to move forward,” said Rivet.
Facilities Director Gene Jones said he has done all he can to try and alleviate some of the issues, including bringing in air ionizers and an “air scrubber,” a high-power air blower to help with air circulation and mitigation of humidity.
“I don’t know what else to do in all my experience,” said Jones, saying he has even reached out to his peers in the field for advice. “The best thing is good housekeeping. Keep it clean. Keep it as up to date as possible … I’ve done everything as far as facility-wise…”
School Committee Chairman Christine Marcolini said it appeared as though the school has done its due diligence, but she is concerned, nonetheless.
“I don’t feel comfortable knowing that the staff doesn’t feel comfortable with the air quality of the building,” Marcolini said, although she voiced some hesitation over inviting the state into the school for testing. “Bringing the state in is a risk. It could turn the school on its ear.”
But at least the testing is free, said Marcolini.
“Till it’s not,” said committee member Kate Houdelette.
“Well, I take this very seriously,” said Marcolini. “We want them to be healthy and feel good in our building.”
The committee voted to move forward with the testing.
In other matters, committee members discussed the proposed draft of the 2016-2017 school calendar and agreed to restore Good Friday as a day off, mostly because the April 14 religious day of observation will be the Friday before April vacation, which had the School Committee questioning the day’s productivity as a day of learning.
School Committee member Christine Winters brought up the concern, saying, given the low attendance of last year’s Good Friday school day, it would be beneficial to take that day off. Religious reasons aside, she said, the district has other Fridays off before a long weekend. Winters then asked Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos her thoughts.
“From an educational perspective, as well as sensitivity perspective, I concur with you that having … Good Friday where we conduct school, given our [substitute teacher] challenges, given our sensitivity to people and their religious observances and travel needs, I think it’s folly to continue down that path,” said Frangos.
Houdelette said she would be open to that, but the committee agreed that making the day a half day instead of a full day or day off would not do.
The committee also wished to move around a couple half days and professional development days in order to allow for less broken-up school weeks throughout the year.
Also during the meeting, the committee approved a $25,000 anonymous donation to the Sippican School, which it has now for a number of years.
Winters opposed the full nondisclosure of the donor’s identity and voted against the acceptance.
“There’s a difference between someone donating something anonymously and not wanting it to be announced publically,” Winters said.
Winters and Marcolini say they both spoke with someone from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and received conflicting information about the legal criteria for accepting an anonymous donation. Marcolini argued that all standards were met, disagreeing with Winters.
“I believe it is one-hundred percent acceptable,” said Houdelette. “I just think we should be celebrating this instead of continuing to debate this.”
Last year, the donation funded the purchase of 200 Chromebooks for the school, among other things.
The committee also voted unanimously in favor of accepting pay increases for substitute teachers and classroom aides for the rest of the school year, and then approved an additional pay raise for the following school year, with Winters opposed.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for March 2 at 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
