Eighteen months have passed since parents became aware of PCB contamination at Malibu High School (MHS). More than $5 million later, SMMUSD has done nothing to remediate the problem.
The ugly truth – saving money district-wide and statewide is more important than our children’s health and safety.
Laura Preston of the Association of CA School Administrators wrote to CA EPA officials on Aug. 8, 2014. The following is an excerpt referencing Malibu PCBs: “The issue in Malibu is particularly concerning to us since any preferential treatment given to the community of Malibu will give the appearance that an affluent largely white community will receive preferential treatment. This can easily become a civil rights issue for all of us.”
Sadly, references to working with Sandra Lyon, our senators and governors offices are made in this letter.
On March 15 in California Educator Magazine, Santa Monica Teachers Union President Sarah Braff states in reference to Malibu PCBs — “we cannot fix the problem in high-profile schools without a plan for all affected schools regardless of status or income. This is also an issue of equity.”
1. Is it not a blatant civil rights violation to Malibu’s children to not remediate toxic PCBs due to the color of their skin or their socio-economic status?
2. No one in Malibu is asking for preferential treatment. Parents want this issue addressed properly in Malibu, across the district, state and nation.
3. Should our children languish in classrooms with PCBs as high as 570,000 ppm (they are in violation of Federal Law at 50 ppm) because there is no bigger picture plan Sarah Braff references? How long do we wait for that plan?
MHS is the first school on the west coast discovered with toxic PCB contamination. The SMMUSD would rather waste $5 million to not solve the problem than to do their jobs; relocate our children, test the source, remediate and create a plan to do the right thing across the rest of the district!
Shame on the SMMUSD, Superintendent Lyon and any other official involved for not protecting our children. Truthfully, I don’t understand how their actions (and inactions) are not considered criminal.
Beth Lucas