May 20, 2007

Health and Safety Committee Update

Since the update on April 12, 2007, the District’s Health and Safety Committee met on two occasions, April 18, 2007 and May 9, 2007. The following is a summary of these meetings:

• The committee agreed that the Baldwin School District’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Booklet for Staff, Students, Parents and Residents of the Baldwin Community will serve as the model for the Connetquot School District. The committee continues to customize this manual to the needs of the CSD. It is expected that Connetquot IAQ manual will be ready by September, 2007.

• Members of the committee are speaking with other districts regarding their Chemical Hygiene Plan. Connetquot School District does not currently have the required Chemical Hygiene Plan, nor has it appointed a chemical hygiene officer to implement and oversee the plan.

• The District will provide the committee with its own report addressing each concern expressed in the NYCOSH report.

• Each committee member was provided with a packet published by the Environmental Protection Agency entitled Tools for Schools. This packet included video tapes and written information on Indoor Air Quality. The committee will be viewing the videos during the next health and safety meeting.

• The committee is finalizing the paperwork and procedures for addressing health and safety concerns. When finalized, there will be a flowchart that will explicitly illustrate how health and safety concerns will be routed from the building level to the Health and Safety Committee. Each building will have a health and safety coordinator who will oversee the investigation of health and safety concerns.

• Selected District personnel will be trained in Indoor Air Quality and Health and Safety issues. The committee and District personnel will be trained by BOCES. In addition to BOCES, CTA members will have the opportunity to be trained by New York Committee on Health and Safety (NYCOSH).

• Preventative measures to address prior health and safety concerns (e.g., summer and fall mold at OBM and Idle Hour) have been discussed. Assurances were given that attention will be given to these problems.

The Health and Safety Committee will meet again on May 30, 2007 and June 13, 2007. Once the District Health and Safety Committee is established, the Association will be holding meetings with members on its own Health and Safety Committee to distribute information and to provide training.

While the Association believes that progress is being made in the development and implementation of Indoor Air Quality and Health and Safety protocol, the true measure of the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Committee will be when there is observable change in the conditions that directly affect the students and staff in this district.

We ask that any Connetquot Teachers Association member that has a concern for any health and safety issue contact Brad Lindell, Vice President of Negotiations and Coordinator of Health and Safety for the CTA. He will address all concerns addressed to him. Contact Brad Lindell at ctablindell@optonline.net.