Our Say in Oak Ridge Elementary School

We whole-heartedly believe that the health and well-being of the children and the faculty and staff is our primary concern.  We have reviewed the findings from the Turner Group, NIOSH, and other information and reports posted on the GCS website.  Based on the number of tests and investigations into a potential mold issue, HVAC issue, or other issues, we believe that due diligence has been done to uncover any systemic issues impacting the health of students and staff.  Efforts should now focus on immediately completing any work to correct the problems identified. Furthermore, any work that can be completed on nights or weekends after the students and staff return, should not delay reopening ORE. 

Without further evidence indicating the presence of other problems that may negatively impact the health of the students and staff, we must stop spending our already greatly limited resources searching indefinitely for additional issues with this building.  Neither NIOSH nor litigation issues should be allowed to delay repair work while costs and resources are drained from Guilford County Schools and the well-being of our families is compromised.  We strongly urge the School Board, ORE administrators, and any other individuals or organizations involved in the decision-making to reopen ORE with the same urgency in which it was closed!

We should all have voice in this matter, but the voice that has not been heard is that of the parents who believe that enough is enough! We have a beautiful, clean school with only minimal physical or structural issues.  We are fortunate to have the wonderful school that we have.  

We want to thank the Plan B committee and others who were involved in making the transition this fall go as smoothly as possible.  They have done an excellent job and continue trying to address the issues of our school being displaced in three locations.  Despite all of their efforts, there are still obstacles which have not been overcome that have put our students at a disadvantage for this year.  These vary in their impact at each of the locations and include:

• lack of access to computers for all students
  
• limited access to library books
  
• limited playground equipment
  
• safety concerns at ORMA
  
• significant heating and air conditioning problems at ORMA
  
• playground at ORMA located adjacent to a busy highway
  
• the omission of the Accelerated Reader Program
  
• unreasonable bus schedules and excessive time spent on buses
  
• additional transportation costs estimated by GCS to be $345 per day
  
• excessive costs for leasing space at ORMA (approximately $27,000 per month)
  
• children in basement rooms with no windows or direct exits
  
• issues with providing lunch at ORMA
  
• limited lunch time at Colfax
  
• obstacles to prevent parent involvement
  
• limited class space at all locations

For many families, the greatest issue is simply getting students to and from three locations.  Our children are best served under one roof in Oak Ridge.  

We must place a priority on moving our students back to ORE!  We strongly urge that steps be taken to move us back to Oak Ridge Elementary by January 4, 2010.