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?