Middle School still closed, parents want answers

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The West Hants Middle School remains closed this week and parents are beginning to wonder if and when their children will return to school.

Annapolis Valley Regional School Board Superintendent Margo Tait posted an update on the school website today noting that testing and extensive cleaning has taken place at the school and construction has been stopped until the end of the school year. She adds that samples taken to-date indicate the building is safe.

However, is still unclear when the school will reopen and Tait says they are considering all possibilities, which may include making alternate arrangements for the remainder of the school year. “There has been a fair amount of testing and we will continue to follow all recommendations and monitor conditions closely,” she told The Hants Journal June 11.

Need to be more up front: parent

But some parents say they aren't being given a straight answer. “They need to be more up front with us,” said Doreen Butler, whose son attends the school. “It's an awful worry for us as parents. This is a very serious issue and I'm nervous that they (the school board) won't be honest with us.”

Although her son has not shown any symptoms, Butler said that doesn't mean he hasn't been affected. “I'm not only worried about what this could mean now, but what effect it could have 20 years down the road. It's a long-term health issue.”

Her worst fear is the school will reopen without being properly treated and investigated. “I think they had good intentions of fixing up the school. They certainly didn't expect this would surface, but the students will have to go to school somewhere and I can't see where the money would come from to fix this problem.”

Even teachers are wary

It appears even the teachers are wary to return to school. A statement from the AVRSB made Wednesday, June 10 notes that a “number of staff are away and we are not able to find enough substitute teachers to fill those classroom positions today.” Tait confirmed that some teaching staff have chosen to stay away from the school and says that is their right under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

However, Tait said, the board believes the issue will correct itself once construction at the school is complete. “Concerns have been raised by students and staff since renovations in the building began,” she said, which resulted in a significant amount of dust.

The first time student health concerns were brought to the board’s attention was last February and, at that time, extensive cleaning was ordered during March break, when students would be out of school. When the number of health complaints spiked last week the decision was made to close the school temporarily.

In the meantime, several school activities have been canceled or relocated. The year-end semi-formal dance tonight has been moved to the adjacent Brooklyn Elementary School. A music concert slated for June 10 was canceled. Whether events such as the Grade 6 orientation June 15 and Grade 7 class trip will still take place is unclear.

Formed a Facebook group

Melanie Goodine said the untimely closures have been a real inconvenience to parents and students. “It's very difficult to make arrangements for child care on such short notice and is disappointing to students to miss activities that we have worked to raise money for.”

Her daughter attends Grade 7 at the school and already misses attending. “She wants to go back to school and she needs that last 12 days to prepare for Grade 8,” Goodine said.

The lack of clear communication has also been trying. “As parents, we want to know what is going on, but we have been given very little information.”

Jana Church has formed a Facebook group, “West Hants Middle School, sick or not?” as a way for parents to communicate information and concerns. She has since heard numerous accounts from parents and students and has responded to dozens of phone calls, all telling the same tale. “It wasn't until we all started talking that we realized this was not an isolated case. It wasn't until now that people saw the connection,” she said.

Her son James has suffered with nosebleeds, headaches, sores and more since the beginning of the school year and she blames the school. Church notes more than 100 students have taken ill with similar symptoms over the past school year. “That's no coincidence. “When I went to tour the school last August there were signs to beware of asbestos. That should have been a red flag right there.”

Tait said some asbestos was removed before school started in September, but it was removed in accordance to strict safety regulations. The board is planning a meeting with parents early next week and will update the school website Friday afternoon.

A public meeting for parents has been organized for Friday, June 11, 7 p.m. at Avon View High School. Church said they hope to reveal further information of interest to parents at that time. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. “We want as many people out there as possible,” she said. “We need to start working on this together.”