JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Parents and teachers at Jefferson Elementary School are pursuing legal help to get further information about the health and safety of the environment at the school.
The Milberg Group is representing parents but is not suing anyone, according to Adam Edwards, a Senior Partner with the group.
"We are interested in working with the school board to get the appropriate testing done to confirm whether JES is safe for students, teachers and staff," Edwards said. "The goal at this point is to ensure that comprehensive environmental testing at JES occurs as soon as possible."
Back in July, WBIR reported on problems with asbestos, sewage backups, mold and asbestos in the building, which was built in 1958. Other issues include a lack of air conditioning in the gym and a lack of a sprinkler system. Students would have to climb out windows if there was a fire.
Parents like Taylor Hackbarth and his wife pulled their daughter out of the school because they were concerned for her health.
"Our second grader had consistent respiratory problems for two years since she started attending Jefferson Elementary School," Hackbarth said. "We were lucky enough to get her into another school in the county that's newer. It's clean. Three weeks later, she's illness-free."
Parents are looking to get more comprehensive environmental testing done at the school. Some said they're concerned about asbestos, mold and other harmful materials like PCBs.
Tommy Arnold, the director of Jefferson County Schools, is responsible for a plan and cost assessment to move students out of the building. That decision was made at a school board meeting on Sept. 5 and Arnold will present a plan at another meeting in October.
A specially-called school board meeting on Monday has an agenda item to "discuss selection of firm for cost projection of renovation scope of work at Jefferson Elementary School," according to the board's website.
Parents, teachers and community leaders have expressed frustrations over a lack of action from the school board and county commission to decide on a solution.
"Everybody agrees there's issues at the school," Hackbarth said. "We have a dysfunctional county government that won't work together. We have a county commission that refuses to fund a new building and we have a school board that's not fighting hard enough for the kids of this community."
WBIR has made continued efforts to talk to school board members and county commission leaders about their vision for a solution, and the challenges to funding either a renovation or entirely new school. Estimates over the years have ranged from $15 million to $30 million for renovations or a new school.
Arnold said he could not answer questions regarding specifics without consulting a board attorney. He said he was unable to speak before this story was published.
Doug Ibetson, the newly elected vice chair of the Jefferson County Board of Education, declined to comment or participate in an interview due to ongoing legal action. During a public meeting, he spoke about Jefferson Elementary School and pointed to comments he made there.
Josh Cameron, the chair of the Jefferson County Board of Education and representative for Jefferson Elementary School, also declined an interview. Marcus Reed, the county commissioner for the district housing Jefferson Elementary School, also did not respond to emails or phone calls at the time of the story.