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Thursday, March 20, 2014

It's not about a name, it's about the quality of the air students, administrators, teachers, and support personnel will inhale

Photo from Paul Proctor's Post in North Huntsville Environmental Concerns(NHECC)
Someone on the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education thought it would be a good idea to build a $65,000 million dollar, predominately African American Middle/High School,  less than half a mile from an active rock quarry.  There are grave concerns about the air quality levels in the area.  These are remarks addressed to BOE district 5 representative Mike Culbreath during citizens comments at the special call meeting on March 18, 2013.

The BOE cut the live camera feed after the Superintendent and BOE made their comments.  Links inserted for emphasis and clarity.

Good evening,
 I am going to address my remarks to my board member, Mike Culbreath with the hope he will listen to the valid concerns I have regarding the location of the new J.O.Johnson Highs School (I said J.O. Johnson High School because the BOE violated it's own naming policy when it illegally renamed the school), being located less than half a mile from an active rock quarry

 I am concerned the BOE has not performed adequate air quality level testing, and most importantly an environmental health risk assessment to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and support personnel.  Currently the BOE is basing their assurance the air quality levels are safe on one test, which was conducted during a period of inactivity, which is not an accurate assessment of air quality.

The  Superintendent and the BOE point to several  other schools that are located even closer to an active rock quarry as rationale for building another school in the area, possibly putting more human beings at risk for respiratory illnesses.  Two wrongs don't make a right, and we didn't know then whatwe know now.

 Mr. Culbreath I am begging you to perform the same due diligence you wold apply to developing a subdivision to the location of the new J.O. Johnson High School.  There is liability for the health, safety and well being of students, teachers, administrators and support personnel.  Lives are at stake.

School Board President David Blair was asked on February 28, 2014 how long was the BOE going to continue to ignore the valid concerns about the air quality at the new J.O. Johnson High School,  he said, "Get me a health risk analysis and I will listen to you."  Mr. Blair has it twisted,  it's his responsibility to provide the citizens with an environmental health risk analysis, not the other way around.  And for the record, elected officials can't decide who they are going to listen too.  They have a duty to listen to ALL taxpayers.

On February 28, 2014 District 5 City Councilman Will Culver said "I looked at all the reports and the air quality at the Pulaski Pike monitoring station (located half a mile from an active rock quarry) is better than the air quality at the Airport Road monitoring station (7.8 miles away).  How can the air quality 7.8 miles away from an active rock quarry be worse than the air quality less than half a mile from an active rock quarry?

At the BOE meeting on March 18, 2014 the Superintendent and the School Board made a point of emphasizing their concern for the students. As they say in my neighborhood, talk is cheap.  How about showing some concern and conduct adequate and aggressive air quality testing, and an environmental health risk analysis ,before you build a $65 million dollar school that may, or may not,  be safe for students to occupy.  It doesn't matter whose name is on the outside of the building, what does matter is the quality of the air the students, administrators, teachers, and support personnel will be inhaling 8 hours a day,  5 days a week.

How long is this issue going to be ignored by those who claim to care about the students, administrators, teachers, and support personnel?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can agree that the air may need to be tested to see if it will affect the students. They will be in the building 95% of the time and the a/c and heat units have filters.

I also believe it when will Cullver says the test show the air is good!

I think the students have a better chance of being a victim of a shooting or any other crime just by being in North Huntsville than they do of breathing unfit air! The crime is rampant and police do all they can but we need the community to step up. We also need to lock all these punks up doing all the crime and keep them there so we can have a better and safer North Huntsville!

Anonymous said...

Really? That's your reply. That offends me. My offer is still there to have coffee or friend me on Facebook.

Anonymous said...

WOW. How am I stupid? I offer to meet in public for coffee. I offer my FB link. I am a peaceful person! I point things out when I see them and that has upset you.I want the younger generations to look for other reasons why instead of the first reason being race!!! You and others like Showers, Harrison and even the big dogs J.Jackson, Sharpton etc have made it hard for our young folks to do anything but SCREAM RACISM instead of looking at all the facts first!!!!

Again IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT RACE!!!

Redeye said...

^DARYAL Pinchon thinks you are stupid^

^ Engaging in Internet trolling,^ including "concern trolling," tone-deaf racial trolling or any other form of trolling behavior.

^These actions will result in^ corrective action facilitated by the blog owner to restore the sanctity and flow of the comments section.

Brian said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Redeye said...

RedEye's Rules

Harassing, defaming or disparaging fellow commentators.
Harassing, defaming or disparaging the blog owner.
Deliberately interfering with the natural progress of the thread (derailing, redirecting, etc).
Engaging in Internet trolling, including "concern trolling," tone-deaf racial trolling or any other form of trolling behavior.
Posting inflammatory or obscene material.
Posting comments containing spam links and advertisements.
Creating "anonymous" user accounts for the sole purpose of trolling or flaming the comments section.


These actions will result in corrective action facilitated by the blog owner to restore the sanctity and flow of the comments section.

Redeye said...

Again:
Harassing, defaming or disparaging the blog owner.
Deliberately interfering with the natural progress of the thread (derailing, redirecting, etc).

These actions will result in corrective action facilitated by the blog owner to restore the sanctity and flow of the comments section.

The topic of this thread is about the valid concerns about the air quality at the new north Huntsville High School located half a mile from an active rock quarry.

Attack the message, not the messenger.

Thank you in advance for you co-operation.