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Concern lingers over asbestos at NWSS
Teacher concerned that district hasn't provided enough information to affected staff and students
By Alfie Lau
Record Reporter
Colleen Ray has many questions herself about the asbestos release at New Westminster Secondary School almost two years ago, but she doesn't know what answers to give her students.
Ray teaches in Room 131, just down the hallway from Room 138, where an asbestos release has resulted in a $75,000 fine for the New Westminster school district. She came to Tuesday night's school board meeting unhappy with how the entire situation has been handled.
"I was teaching on that day, and I can say there was a plume of smoke, there was a strong odour and there were a number of teachers concerned," Ray said.
"How am I supposed to respond if other teachers and students have questions? _ What can be done to reinstate faith in what's going on? How are we supposed to handle this as staff?"
Superintendent John Woudzia didn't have any definitive answers for Ray, but he assured her that the district is taking the matter seriously.
Not only did Woudzia hold a staff meeting at the high school Thursday to give staffers all the information he had, he said school trustees spent almost the entire in-camera portion of their Tuesday meeting discussing the issue.
"There is a sense of urgency that we provide as much information to our staff," Woudzia said. "We will be in contact with any staffers who have questions."
Ray was still not satisfied.
"I'm hoping there will be a pro-active approach," she said.
She said that, as of Tuesday, she was one of the few NWSS staffers who had seen the 24-page WorkSafe B.C. review report. The review admonished the district and, in particular, director of operations Larry Bryce, for the mishandling of the asbestos incident.
"There has to be a proactive approach because kids will be coming to teachers. What do you want us to say, (because) the questions will be coming."
Trustee James Janzen responded: "This will not happen again. You should take comfort that we are taking all the necessary steps to make sure this will not happen again."
"I haven't had any comfort (since) this happened," Ray replied.
Trustee Lori Watt, reached Thursday by The Record, admitted that she, like Ray, has questions that need to be answered.
"We're (looking at) having someone come in, a consultant, who should be able to answer those questions," Watt said. "People have a right to be concerned and we, as a board, feel that the most important thing is to make sure this never happens again. _
"I know this gives little comfort to the people who were affected by the (original) incident but we are doing everything we can."
alau@royalcityrecord.com
published on 01/20/2007
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