In light of ongoing health concerns over potential toxins at Malibu High School, a newly formed group calling itself Malibu Parents for Healthy Schools has funded the hiring of a consulting firm headed by environmental scientist Paul Rosenfeld
Rosenfeld is an environmental chemist for Soil/Water/Air Protection Enterprise (SWAPE) with an expertise in the areas of soil chemistry and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination.
“This firm will review existing data and test reports, assess the situation at the school, and recommend the appropriate testing protocols and precautionary measures that must be undertaken to ensure the safety of the children, teachers and administrators at the Malibu High School and Middle School,” the group said in a statement issued Thursday. (For the full statement, see below.)
The statement came a day after a group of more than 100 parents gathered at the Point Dume Clubhouse to hear a presentation from Rosenfeld, who said the district had neglected to perform air quality tests and toxins known as PCBs may be affecting the overall campus environment.Â
Attendees were asked to leave checks to pay an estimated $5,000 for Rosenfeld’s services. A handful of attendees were seen leaving donations after the meeting, while many others left before the group started its collection.
After Rosenfeld makes his recommendations on behalf of the parents, the group expects a swift response from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
“Our expectation is that… the School District will immediately undertake all necessary steps required to remediate environmental hazards identified during such testing, in order to ensure the safety of the children, their teachers and the administration,” the group stated Thursday.
Requests for comment from district Supt. Sandra Lyon were not immediately returned. Check back as more information becomes available.
Malibu Parents for Healthy Schools full statement:
In light of the recent community concerns about potential environmental hazards at the Malibu High School and Middle School, last night, a group of concerned Malibu parents joined together to hire SWAPE, LLC, a Santa Monica based environmental consulting firm, whose scientists include nationally recognized experts in their respective fields. This firm will review existing data and test reports, assess the situation at the school, and recommend the appropriate testing protocols and precautionary measures that must be undertaken to ensure the safety of the children, teachers and administrators at the Malibu High School and Middle School. We will share our consultants’ recommendations with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. Our expectation is that, based on these recommendations: (a) the School District will have all of the proper tests performed across the entire campus as soon as possible, (b) all raw test data will be made available immediately to our consultants and other interested parties and organizations, and (c) the School District will immediately undertake all necessary steps required to remediate environmental hazards identified during such testing, in order to ensure the safety of the children, their teachers and the administration.