JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Parents of students at Jefferson Elementary School expressed anger and frustration about conditions at their child's school Wednesday.
WBIR has received several messages from parents who said the school lacked air conditioning during the first week of school, and who said their kid's teachers have asked parents to dress students in cool clothing.
Last week, WBIR reported concerns from teachers, principals and district leaders about the need for renovations, or an entirely new school for Jefferson Elementary School students. Issues included asbestos, a lack of a working sprinkler system and air conditioning and heating problems.
"The biggest concerns that we've discussed in the group is the asbestos, the mold and the sewage," said Anita McKemy, a Jefferson Elementary School parent. "Those are just conditions that nobody should be subjected to have to live through or, you know, deal with on a daily basis."
Parents are organizing informal group chats and social media groups. Some said they plan to attend the next Jefferson County Board of Education meeting on Sept. 6.
"We can show the school board and the commission we are very serious about the health and safety of our kids and we are not going away," said Danielle Kaller, another parent. "We're not going anywhere until they make the changes that we are requiring."
Kaller said she considered pulling her kids out of Jefferson Elementary School, but her daughter's IEP and special needs make things complicated.
"I would like to see these kids out. I would like to see them in another school and I don't think it needs to take to the end of the year," Kaller said. "There should be no reason this has gone on for 10 years and that's what is disgusting."
Recently, WBIR obtained a TOSHA report from the school district, outlining concerns.
Here are the complaints filed:
- There is no A/C in the gym where children are made to exercise in extreme heat depending on the weather.
- There is raw sewage backing up into the school due to plumbing issues.
- There are safety concerns about windows opening from the wind or weather.
- There is exposed and unmaintained asbestos throughout the school with holes in the walls, cracks and holes in vents, and holes in the ceiling tiles.
- There is a lack of proper ventilation and working air units throughout the school causing humidity levels so high that metal furniture gets rusty and items in many parts of the building grow mold.
The district has since resolved those concerns.
This is an excerpt from the letter from Tommy Arnold, Director of Schools in Jefferson County.
"To address the concerns in your letter dated August 7, 2024 regarding Jefferson Elementary School please see below:
- Large fans are provided in the gym and doors can be propped open. A/C is not required in the state of Tennessee.
- A pipe was blocked, and sewage backed up into the school. Sewage was pumped by Rose Septic on November 28, 2023 and a section of sewer line was replace. This resolved the issue (see attached invoice).
- When windows are properly locked by teachers and staff, the windows do not open during inclement weather.
- Asbestos is being maintained and removed as necessary throughout the school. Attached are the 3-year and 6-month AHERA reports showing contained asbestos locations. The cafeteria tile was recently removed and remediated (see attached invoices and reports).
- The attached mold test, mold remediation, and re-test data shows that Jefferson County Schools takes a proactive stance on the environmental health of our students and staff. In 2017, we tested 14 classrooms, showed possible mold in 8 classrooms. We had a company provide mold remediation and re-tested classrooms showing a reduced mold count. We also tested a classroom at Jefferson Elementary School in August 2024 and are awaiting results."