Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

I spent a lot of time in both the rifle range/archery room and this prop room they're talking about... It was a hangout for drama geeks like me.

We had keys to the basement and used to go exploring there all the time.

Lead found at Island Trees High storage room

BY JOHN HILDEBRAND

[email protected]

April 16, 2008


Government inspectors have discovered lead contamination in a storage room at Island Trees High School, but have concluded that the building itself remains safe for students and teachers.

In a letter sent to parents earlier this week, school board President Kenneth Rochon announced that the storage room, which is used to hold props for high school performances, was being cleaned immediately. Rochon added that the entire school would get an extra cleaning over the summer.

The letter went on to say, however, that there was no indication that either students or staff were being exposed to high lead levels, and several officials involved in the inspection agreed.

"In this case, we absolutely don't think there's any health crisis," said Mary Mears, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which participated in the March 20 inspection along with state and county authorities. Mears added that her agency had called for the special summer cleaning as a precaution.

"There's very low risk to either the students or the teachers," added Cynthia Brown, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County Health Department.

Lead pollution has been a controversial issue at Island Trees High School, ever since the district closed down an indoor rifle range there in 1994. In 2006, the district, which serves a portion of Levittown, removed tons of lead-contaminated soil from the building's basement, after state officials determined that the soil posed a potential hazard.

District officials now say more extensive steps should have been taken to clean up contamination when the range was first closed. They add, however, that the latest inspection could not determine whether lead dust in the storage room came from bullet residue, or from another source such as paint.

The most recent inspections were requested by a local resident, Brian Kelty, who contends the high school is unsafe and has pulled two sons out of classes there. Kelty, who campaigned unsuccessfully for the school board last year and is considering another run, has notified the district of his intent to sue on grounds that lead contamination may have harmed the health of an older son whose condition Kelty declined to specify.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

I know - it's scary. I teach there and there's always a parent/community concern. I actually had no idea that the Kelty's were going forward they are.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

It's the prop room under the stage, right? Because there was another one we used that was on stage level. But it would stand to reason that all the lead is in the basement.

I mean lead is still around in other places... how dangerous is it really?

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

This was posted on our website by the superintendent


(correction - it was written by the school board president)

Message edited 4/16/2008 9:55:09 PM.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

That's interesting, thanks for posting it.

If it's the rifle range that I'm thinking of, it was in use for archery as late as 1989, although that memo says it's use was discontinued earlier than that.

I wonder if the drama kids still go traipsing around down there. There was a bed and desk in one of the basement rooms even. Then again, we had a very lax drama advisor!

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

YIKES. I went there scary stuff.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

I went there... if they're talking about the basement storage room, I thought they cleaned that all up when they put the art rooms down there... I guess they missed some.

Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by ArmyOfBabies

I went there... if they're talking about the basement storage room, I thought they cleaned that all up when they put the art rooms down there... I guess they missed some.

Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by june262004

YIKES. I went there scary stuff.

You should mention this to your brother. He especially spent a lot of time down there with us too.

I just realized that my ex-next door neighbor Mr. Bonsigiore is on the BOE. I must tell my Mom.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by ArmyOfBabies

I went there... if they're talking about the basement storage room, I thought they cleaned that all up when they put the art rooms down there... I guess they missed some.

Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

What year did you graduate? I never knew they put the art rooms down there.

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by june262004

I just sent my bro a text message.

Tell him Jammin Jades says hi? (don't ask)

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by ArmyOfBabies



Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by june262004

Posted by ArmyOfBabies



Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

Jeri funny thing is I thought the same thing

Re: Lead contaminants at Island Trees HS

Posted by ArmyOfBabies

Posted by june262004

Posted by ArmyOfBabies



Can I blame the lead contamination for the way I am?

Jeri funny thing is I thought the same thing

I think we can blame IT for a lot of things.....