Thursday, August 19, 1999

This document has to do with a very serious problem that now exists at the Dutchtown Middle School in Ascension Parish in Gonzales.

Yesterday the 18^th I picked my son up after school. He came to my vehicle beet red and sweating profusely. Upon questioning him as to how he got into this state he replied, "just sitting in the gym". Further questioning revealed that this gym facility has no air conditioning, two fans, and no real ventilation. The temperature could well be in excess of 100 degrees. I can't confirm this as no one connected with the school is willing to put a thermometer in there to check the temperature.

I have since yesterday afternoon at 2PM contacted the principle of the school Mrs. Cathy Merideth (225) 621-2355 , the assistant principle Mr. Douglas Walker (225) 621-2355, the director of the middle school Mrs. Denise Graves, the superintendent of Ascension Parish schools Mr. Robert Clouatre (225) 621-2300, and Mr. Bill Miller of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Schools. None of which were willing to take immediate steps to resolve this serious health and safety problem.

The impression I received at the middle school level was one of not making waves and jeopardizing their jobs rather than considering the students well being. As a matter of fact I was asked more than once what was expected of them. When I answered do something about it they shrugged and said their hands were tied.

The response from the school board superintendent Mr. Robert Clouatre wasn't any better. He in fact told a member of the health department that a child was capable of handling any temperature. I would sure like to have him expand on that statement. Wouldn't you?

A call to the State board of health may or may not have produced some results This I won't know until tomorrow.

Friday, August 20, 1999

Today the State Board of Health visited the Dutchtown Middle School and took temperature readings. Their thermometer registered 93 degrees at approximately 2 PM in the old gym. This reading did not take into affect the heat index which would put the temperature well over 100 degrees. Much too hot for a child to be subjected to. And my son states that it was cooler in the gym today than it had been all week!

I am now waiting to hear from the principal Mrs. Meredeth. Who I believe will take her direction from the school superintendent. I have been assured that if they refuse to remedy the problem or their effort is not satisfactory that the State Medical Director is ready to step in and make the school board do something.

All in all I believe that no one at the middle school level was cooperative in this problem, nor was the school board at the parish level any better. I told the principle that in my opinion they were more concerned with their grade point average and finances than with the students well being. It also wouldn't be a bad idea if they read their own student handbook. It states on page three, under OUR STAFF BELIEVES, second bullet, "A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning." Let's get them to practice what they preach.

If anyone wants to join in with me on this situation feel free to email me.

Tuesday, August 23, 1999

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from Mrs. Graves the middle school director assuring me that the students were to be moved out of the old gym. Upon checking this afternoon there were still children in the gym at school closing.

In a conversation with the school superintendent today I was told they are looking into a large exhaust fan to eliminate some of the heat in the gym. I don't trust the words looking into, as far as I'm concerned it's a ploy to stall for time. They need to get off of their duffs and get something accomplished.

I have come to the conclusion that the school board feels they are not regulated or dictated by others. There is no state law that requires the school board to succumb and fix the problem. A call to the state board of education didn't seem to raise too many eye brows either. This feeling of being bullet proof and the aloofness displayed by the school and the school board can only be broken by us. So lets get involved and make some changes.

Deluge the school and the school superintendent with phone calls concerning this problem. Let them know they are being scrutinized and their future pay checks depend on their actions. Get a hold of your elected officials and ask them what can be done to make the school board accountable for their actions. If you let them slip by on this problem the next problem will be ten times more difficult to resolve.

Remember this, they are responsible for your most precious assets. Your children.

September 1, 1999

September 2, 1999

Ascension Parish School Board

1100 Webster Street

Donaldsonville, La. 70346

Attention: Mr. Robert Clouatre

Please accept this registered letter as a formal complaint with regards to the management of the Dutchtown Middle School.

After previously raising the issue of the intolerable temperatures existing in the old gym facility I feel that your effort to remedy the problem has been less than acceptable. After being contacted by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Health, parish officials and others, and after approximately three weeks, I see absolutely nothing being done to remedy the situation, other than comments such as "we're looking into it". Looking into it is not taking care of the problem in a timely and professional manner. In fact, the attitude demonstrated by all in your organization would lead me to believe you are more concerned with the cost of properly ventilating the gym rather than the health and welfare of the students.

I would also request at this time that the principal, Mrs. Kathy Merideth, and assistant principal, Mr. Douglas Walker, of the Dutchtown Middle School be formally reprimanded for allowing our children to be placed in this less than desirable environment, knowing full well that temperatures in excess of ninety degrees existed, and more than likely still exist, in that facility. Their lack of concern and previous knowledge of the dangerous situation is less than professional and down right inhumane.

I also formally request that the school board reprimand itself for allowing these actions to take place, and to reprimand Mrs. Graves the Director of Middle Schools for allowing such negligent actions to be perpetrated by the principal and assistant principal of the Dutchtown Middle School, both who are under her direct supervision.

I formally request your immediate response, and positive action to this situation be taken.

cc:
Ascension Parish Council
Morning Advocate Newspaper
Gonzales Weekly Newspaper
Ascension Citizen Newspaper
Channel 2 Newsroom
Channel 9 Newsroom
Channel 33 Newsroom
Mrs. Kathy Merideth principal of the Dutchtown Middle School
Mr. Douglas Walker assistant principal of the Dutchtown Middle School

August 7, 2000

Kathy Meredith, Principal
Dutchtown Middle School
13078 Highway 73
Geismer, LA 70734

Re: Heat-related illness and Dutchtown Middle School's Gym

Dear Ms. Meredith,

The details of the health complaint are as follows:

Upon receiving this health complaint related to indoor air quality, I contacted your office. On Friday, August 4, we discussed this health concern. In response to the complaint you stated that although the gym would still be used as a homeroom classroom during the upcoming school year, homeroom would only last seven-minutes and would only be held on a couple of days over the entire school year. The gym was considered a necessary homeroom space due to the large number of students for the limited number of available classrooms. Although the gym still was without air-conditioning, eight fans were installed in the gym to improve air circulation.

The primary concern that you expressed was that the gym was necessary for physical education classes that are held daily for 40-minute periods by two classes each period. Although the gym has never been air-conditioned, you felt that the temperatures were warmer today and that children were less physically fit than when the gym was first constructed. To address this concern you were working with the physical education staff to develop a written plan for recommended activity in the gym. This would include monitoring students continuously and ensuring that they were properly hydrated. Also, children with pre-existing medical conditions (i.e. asthma) were currently monitored and often excused from physical education by a doctor's note.

You were open to suggestions and recommendations that the health department might have. We discussed installing a thermometer and humidistat in the gym to gauge the heat index and modify activity levels accordingly. Also rotating homeroom classes and physical education classes into the smaller air-conditioned gym, so that one class would not be occupying or using the gym continuously throughout the year was also thought to be an option. We also discussed the importance of communication with parents and staff either before or when a problem presents itself: A proactive approach, I believe would be beneficial in this situation. Informing parents and staff of what actions the school is taking on behalf of the student's health and safety could alleviate rather than raise concerns.

Upon your request, I contacted Dr. Jean Takenaka of the Office of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Child Safety Program with the question of what temperature is 'too hot' for physical activity in middle school children. Dr. Takenaka forwarded me a copy of a journal article titled "Sports Injuries: Emergency Assessment and Field-side Care" from Pediatrics in Review (September 1999). This article provides an excellent summary of risk factors for heat illnesses in children involved in exercise activity. The authors state that a wet bulb globe temperature in excess of 82° F presents a hazardous risk level for heat illness. The wet bulb globe method is a type of temperature measurement that is commonly used in sports medicine as a heat stress indicator and is used to determine when weather is detrimental to the health of athletes. Another measure of thermal comfort is the heat index or apparent temperature. The heat index measures how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the effects of the air temperature.