GIRARD SCHOOLS Parents: Pupils' symptoms persist

The school board president says he was unaware of the magnitude of the problem.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- "How much longer do our children have to suffer?" the parent of a sixth-grader asked.
She was joined by more than 50 other parents seeking answers that Superintendent Anthony D'Ambrosio and school board members didn't have Tuesday night.
Girard Intermediate School pupils have been complaining since October of itchy and burning eyes, headaches, skin rashes and vomiting.
The district has been working with the city health department, Ohio Department of Health, building architects and environmental specialists to find the source of the problem.
Results pending: D'Ambrosio said it will take two to three weeks to get the results of the latest tests, noting efforts are now focusing on the ventilation system.
Higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide are present in the building, indicating that there is not enough fresh air getting into the building, the superintendent said.
Asked after the meeting if closing the school or part of it is an option, D'Ambrosio responded, "I'll leave that up to the [state] board of health."
Cathy Ross, president of Girard Concerned Citizens, told the board that a survey showed 86 pupils went to the school nurse complaining of the symptoms in one week and a teacher passed out.
The school that houses 408 pupils opened last fall.
Ross said that all but seven of 42 staff members have experienced similar symptoms.
Board president Richard R. Ragozine said he was unaware of the magnitude of the problem.
"Please, we're all ears," he told the parents.
Board member Jane Harris said parents haven't contacted her, except for Ross.
Harris dismissed the suggestion of closing the building because parents complain when school is closed because of bad weather.
Complaints aired: Some parents said they weren't notified of the symptoms until March when news stories began emerging. "Your communications stinks," John Ullom said.
D'Ambrosio said the city health department was notified of the problem in November, but Peter Zellers, a health board member, said it wasn't until about a month ago.
One parent said she hadn't been notified of the problem until April 3 during a meeting involving the local heath department, parents and the mayor.
Some parents complained of mounting medical bills, while others said the uncertainty of long-term effects has them worried.
"Your concerns are legitimate," Ragozine told them.
Board member Jamie DeVore told the parents that he would not send his children to school if he believed there were long-term effects.