Brooklyn Parents Want Children Relocated From Mold-Infested Middle School
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Parents of students at Middle School 577 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are in an uproar over the school's ongoing problems with mold.
Eighth grader Matthew DeJesus told CBS 2's Derricke Dennis that mold in the building has been making him sick.
"I've been having mild headaches, and a lot of breathing problems, and shortness of breath," DeJesus said on Monday night.
The mold stems from a leaky facade and a worn out roof. An emergency meeting, led by Deputy Schools Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, was held to fill parents in on the details of a massive weekend cleanup of seven classrooms.
1010 WINS' John Montone reports
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Parents have demanded that their children be relocated, but officials, including city health inspectors, have tried to reassure parents that recent testing revealed low levels of mold. They also told parents that the children would not be relocated.
The "no" answer sent parents marching up the aisles, leaving the meeting in disgust.
"Relocate our children. There are obviously enough schools in the area. Even if we have to split them up, their health is more important than just keeping them together," parent Mayra Ducos said.
Most parents echoed Ducos' frustration.
"The same thing happened last Monday for three hours. A lot of questions and no answers," Luis Santiago said.
School officials told CBS 2 that they will continue to monitor mold levels at the school, and parents said that they will continue to keep their children home.
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