Jawando spotlights air-quality issue at NHES that left 26 children, 9 staff members ill

[Anonymous]

SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14afTkYY1zS/

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing air quality emergency at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School. Starting last week, multiple students and staff members in Room 120 reported serious symptoms: difficulty breathing, headaches, coughing, and a metallic taste in the air. People fell ill. The Fire Department was called. I grew up just two blocks from New Hampshire Estates, and I am a parent of MCPS students. I share the frustration of every parent and community member who is asking: How did this happen, and what is being done about it?

My office has been in active communication with school administration, MCPS leadership, the PTA, and affected families. While MCPS has conducted inspections, reviewed air quality sensor data, and found that readings did not exceed health hazard thresholds, those readings do not erase the fact that real people experienced real symptoms.

As Chair of the Montgomery County Council's Education & Culture Committee, I have asked MCPS to provide a full and transparent update to the New Hampshire Estates community. I am working with Superintendent Taylor to ensure every appropriate step is being taken to address this issue, and I will continue carefully monitoring this situation until it is resolved. This underscores the need to increase funding in our capital budget for HVAC and other critical renovations.

[Anonymous]

But Wootton....

[Anonymous]

Um, Eastern?

[Anonymous]

He's not concerned as he's runs the education committee with the county council and has done nothing ot make things better.

[Anonymous]

That's terrible, I didn't know about this. If I had a kid there, I would be very worried about their health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's not concerned as he's runs the education committee with the county council and has done nothing ot make things better.

Better late than never, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's terrible, I didn't know about this. If I had a kid there, I would be very worried about their health.

I agree. I wonder why Taylor isn’t making this an emergency and running to Council for emergency funds? They found $800,000 for the background checks that needed to get done with the OIG called him out.

Doesn’t this qualify as a similar emergency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's terrible, I didn't know about this. If I had a kid there, I would be very worried about their health.

I agree. I wonder why Taylor isn’t making this an emergency and running to Council for emergency funds? They found $800,000 for the background checks that needed to get done with the OIG called him out.

Doesn’t this qualify as a similar emergency?

I think we'd need to figure out what's going on and before it makes sense to ask for money to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's terrible, I didn't know about this. If I had a kid there, I would be very worried about their health.

I agree. I wonder why Taylor isn’t making this an emergency and running to Council for emergency funds? They found $800,000 for the background checks that needed to get done with the OIG called him out.

Doesn’t this qualify as a similar emergency?

I think we'd need to figure out what's going on and before it makes sense to ask for money to fix it.

It doesn’t seem like MCPS wants to find out what’s going. The NHES PTA has repeatedly advocated over the last few years and warned of the health and safety due to the deteriorating conditions of the building, and MCPS keeps saying they’re looking into it or claiming the issue has been remediated.

This was from a year ago: https://www.mymcmedia.org/pta-to-board-of-ed-students-and-teachers-are-breathing-in-mold/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's terrible, I didn't know about this. If I had a kid there, I would be very worried about their health.

I agree. I wonder why Taylor isn’t making this an emergency and running to Council for emergency funds? They found $800,000 for the background checks that needed to get done with the OIG called him out.

Doesn’t this qualify as a similar emergency?

Taylor told New Hampshire Estates that he needed data on their mold problems before he could do anything. That was last fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, Eastern?

Eastern is getting rebuilt. New Hampshire Estates requested a new building, but it didn't make the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, Eastern?

Eastern is getting rebuilt. New Hampshire Estates requested a new building, but it didn't make the list.

Um, when? For your grandkids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, Eastern?

Eastern is getting rebuilt. New Hampshire Estates requested a new building, but it didn't make the list.

Um, when? For your grandkids?

Given the recent decades of waiting, you might well think so. However, Eastern MS and Damascus HS are green-lit for rebuilding. As for any additional schools on the list, we will have to wait until the county council gives a final dollar amount to the board of education for the CIP.

[Anonymous]

What happened in that room? That seems like a very localized event, like a specific peace of equipment failed. Or possibly a communicable illness that someone brought in and spread to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happened in that room? That seems like a very localized event, like a specific peace of equipment failed. Or possibly a communicable illness that someone brought in and spread to others.

Not sure. But it's wild that MCEA, SEIU and the PTA had to hire their own specialist to diagnose the issue and give the report to MCPS.