Growing Concerns Over Asbestos Prompts Teachers To Take Action

MORNING, ALSO, SOME SEPTA BUSROUTES WILL BE ON DETOUR.JANELLE, BACK TO YOU.CONCERN OVER ASBESTOS INPHILADELPHIA'S SCHOOLS,PROMPTING SOME TEACHERS TOTAKING.HOLE -- HOLDING A RALLY.JANUARY JAN CARABEO LIVEOUTSIDE HUNTING PARK WITH MOREON THE STORY, GOOD MORNING,JAN.JIM, JANELLE, GOOD MORNING,YOU MAY REMEMBER THATTEACHERS, PARENTS ANDLAWMAKERS ALIKE HAVE HELDRALLIES IN RECENT WEEKS TOBRING ATTENTION TO THE ONGOINGASBESTOS CRISIS HERE IN PHILLYSCHOOLS.WELL THERE IS RALLY ISHAPPENING TODAY, STARTINGRIGHT AROUND 7:30, OUTSIDE OFMCCLURE ELEMENTARY, AND THESETEACH REMEMBERS CONCERNED THATTHE ASBESTOS CLEAN-UP HERE WASRUSHED, IT WASN'T THOROUGHLYDONE, AND THAT TEACHERS ANDSTUDENTS FORCED BACK INTO THEBUILDING, BEFORE IT WAS SAFETO DO SO.HERE IS WHERE ALL OF THISCONCERN STEMS FROM.TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO NOW.THE PHILADELPHIA TEACHERSUNION SAYS IT IS PREPARINGLAWSUIT BECAUSE OF IT.RECENT TESTING REVEALEDALARMING LEVELS OF ASBESTOS INTHE AIR HERE AT MCCLUREELEMENTARY, UNION SCIENTISTTHAT CONDUCTED ASBESTOSTESTING ON TUESDAY SAYS THEDISTRICT FILED SEAL ACONTAMINATED ATTIC LEADING TOELEVATED ASBESTOS LEVELS INTHE AIR.WE ARE TOLD THE DISTRICTCONDUCTED MORE TESTS THATNIGHT, WHICH WERE NEGATIVE.SO STUDENT RETURNED TO CLASSON WEDNESDAY.AFTER THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSEDFOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS.NOW, IN A STATEMENT, THEDISTRICT SAYS THE UNION AGREEDON THE PROTOCOLS USED ADD THATIT IS UNCLEAR AS TO WHY THEUNION CONTINUES TO RAISEQUESTIONS, AND IN SOME CASES,SEEKS SCHOOL CLOSURES AFTERTESTS CONFIRM SCHOOLS OKAYTORRE OCCUPANCY.ASBESTOS CONCERNS HAVE NOWPOPPED UP AT ANOTHERPHILADELPHIA SCHOOL.OFFICIALS SAY SCHOOL CLASSROOMAT HOP KIN SON SCHOOL INJUNIATA OFF LIMITS DUE TOASBESTOS CONTAMINATION AND INPIPES THERE.LETTER WENT HOME TO PARENYESTERDAY EXPLAINING THAT THECLASSROOM INVOLVED WILL NOT BEUSED AGAIN UNTIL THE ASBESTOSIS REMEDIATE DOLLARS.AND THE DISTRICT GOES ON TOSAY THAT EVERY TIME ASBESTOSIS FOUND, AND ADDRESSED, THEYALWAYS SENDS LETTER HOME TOPARENTS.STILL, PARENTS AND TEACHERSARE FRUSTRATED, SAYING THEYWANT MORE TRANS PAREN ZIP, ONEOF THE ISSUES, THE OTHER,BOTTOM LINE, THEY SAY, THEYWANT THESE BUILDINGSCOMPLETELY SAFE FOR WHENTEACHERS AND STUDENTS STEPFOOT INSIDE OF THEM.OF COURSE WE WILL CONTINUE TOFOLLOW THE STORY FOR NOW LIVE