Legislation Assemblywomen Connie Wagner & Joan Voss Sponsored Regarding Contaminated Soil Found On School Property Approved
By Mel Fabrikant Friday, December 11, 2009, 04:26 PM EST
Bill Stems from Incident at Paramus Middle School
Legislation Assemblywomen Connie Wagner and Joan Voss sponsored to require prompt parental notification of contaminated soil found on school property was approved 37-0 on Thursday by the full Senate. The bill stems from a 2007 incident in Paramus in which the school district waited several months before notifying parents that pesticide-laden soil had been discovered on the grounds of West Brook Middle School.
“This bill is common sense, but sadly it’s very apparently needed,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “Schools shouldn’t have to be told to provide prompt notification to parents about toxins being found on school grounds, but unfortunately history shows we have to take this step to protect our children.”
“Quite simply, parents deserve to be notified promptly when contamination is found on school grounds,” said Voss (D-Bergen). “They shouldn’t have to wait months, though that’s what we’ve seen happen. Parents have a right to quickly know when their children are in danger.”
The bill (A-1072) would require the local school board, the board of trustees of a charter school or the principal or chief administrator of a private school to provide the notice within 10 days of discovering soil contamination caused by pesticides on school property.
The notice must include a description of the problem, the factors that qualified the problem as an emergency that threatened the health or safety and a description of the steps that will be taken to remediate the soil contamination.
The notice could be provided by written notice sent home with the student; a telephone call, direct contact or e-mail.
The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk who may decide to sign it, veto it or conditionally modify it.
Legislation Assemblywomen Connie Wagner and Joan Voss sponsored to require prompt parental notification of contaminated soil found on school property was approved 37-0 on Thursday by the full Senate. The bill stems from a 2007 incident in Paramus in which the school district waited several months before notifying parents that pesticide-laden soil had been discovered on the grounds of West Brook Middle School.
“This bill is common sense, but sadly it’s very apparently needed,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “Schools shouldn’t have to be told to provide prompt notification to parents about toxins being found on school grounds, but unfortunately history shows we have to take this step to protect our children.”
“Quite simply, parents deserve to be notified promptly when contamination is found on school grounds,” said Voss (D-Bergen). “They shouldn’t have to wait months, though that’s what we’ve seen happen. Parents have a right to quickly know when their children are in danger.”
The bill (A-1072) would require the local school board, the board of trustees of a charter school or the principal or chief administrator of a private school to provide the notice within 10 days of discovering soil contamination caused by pesticides on school property.
The notice must include a description of the problem, the factors that qualified the problem as an emergency that threatened the health or safety and a description of the steps that will be taken to remediate the soil contamination.
The notice could be provided by written notice sent home with the student; a telephone call, direct contact or e-mail.
The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk who may decide to sign it, veto it or conditionally modify it.
