50 Malibu High Students Choose Independent Study

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SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon addresses the media on Tuesday, Oct. 8 regarding concerns over environmental contaminants at Malibu High School and Middle School. Minutes earlier, Lyon spoke before a gathering of more than 300 parents, students and teachers about the concerns. 

Approximately 50 students at Malibu High School have enrolled in an independent study program since a health scare was reported at the school nearly two weeks ago, according to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials.

Students were given the independent study option last week. 

The students will be home-schooled and submit their work Fridays by 2:30 p.m., district officials told The Malibu Times, while the district continues to test environmental quality at the school.

A letter signed by 20 Malibu Middle and High School teachers on Friday, Oct. 11 expressed concern that the recent cancer diagnoses of three teachers and health problems experienced by other teachers—including three with thyroid problems, seven with persistent migraines, one with bladder cancer, among others—may be related to contaminants on the campus. Each of the affected teachers spent prolonged periods of time in buildings E (the main middle school building), F (Music and Drama), I (Visual Arts) and the school theater.

Classes in the possibly contaminated buildings have since been relocated to Malibu Methodist Church and Juan Cabrillo Elementary School.

Knowles Adkisson contributed to this report.