North field Elementary School blocks parent group's tour

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N.S. school blocks parent group's tour

JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer June 07, 2001

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Members of the School Health and Safety Association

(SHASA) won't be nosing around Kendall-Dean Elementary School as planned

today in search of mold problems.

The parent watchdog group got word yesterday that a scheduled tour of the

school would not be allowed, members said last night.

The action came the day after SHASA members asked that school officials

conduct testing to determine if a mold problem similar to those plaguing

other town buildings exists in the school.

SHASA members said they viewed the denial as school officials' informal

response to the parent group's request.

" I think all of us would benefit from a more open collaboration with the

School Committee, " Law, parent of children attending the North

field Elementary School and a SHASA member, said later.

SHASA had already scheduled the tour of Kendall-Dean when the school's

principal, Margaret Lemay, informed members it would not be permitted.

" They were told they would not be allowed to tour the school and that they

would have to go through the superintendent of schools, " Law said.

When contacted about SHASA's concerns last night, Superintendent M.

Scherza said he was not aware that the group had been barred entry to the

school.

He said he did not intend to get into a public debate with the group, as had

occurred during the school department's study of mold problems at NSES this

spring.

Thus far nothing has indicated a need to test at Kendall-Dean, he said.

" We are following the advice of the state Department of Health, all the

protocols of government agencies and the recommendations of our consultants

and that has held us in good stead, " Scherza said. " We are going to continue

following that track. "

A number of NSES students are scheduled to relocate to Kendall-Dean in

September while work continues on an addition at that school.

Since Kendall-Dean is in a neighborhood where some homes have experienced

basement flooding in the past, Law said SHASA wants to know if those

problems also exist in the circa-1930s school.

" I think they were just planning to investigate or look around to see if

there is any mold odor or any signs of mold in the school, " he said.

" We have been very frustrated in our attempts to get some cooperation, " he

said.

The group plans to take its concerns before the School Committee at its next

meeting on June 19, he said.

©The Call 2001