Parents at P.S. 176 The Ovington School in Dyker Heights say months of construction have left them with more questions than answers about asbestos, and they are not cooling down. Families allege debris was hauled away in containers labeled “asbestos” that were placed in the playground and near parent drop off, and they point to at least two students whose respiratory illnesses worsened this year. On June 12, they took their anger to the street in a protest demanding clarity, accountability, and in some cases the principal’s removal, as local elected officials and a law firm stepped in to track the complaints and offer help.
Parents say they watched workers toss debris into a green container clearly marked “asbestos,” and describe dust from the ongoing work settling on the playground and inside classrooms, according to Brooklyn Paper. Organizer Andres Juarez, a former School Leadership Team member, documented conditions in emails and at public meetings, then resigned after accusing school leaders of keeping families in the dark. Parents told reporters those labeled containers were parked right where families drop off kids in the morning, heightening fears for children who spend time outdoors during the school day.
A legal blog post on March 29 summarized the parents’ allegations and reported that at least two students “became seriously ill” one with severe pneumonia who missed about 40 days of school and another whose asthma worsened. The post also described asbestos-labeled containers in both the playground and parent drop-off areas, and laid out the obligations schools and contractors have under federal and state asbestos rules. The writeup, published on Gersowitz Libo & Korek’s Lawyertime blog, included contact information for families looking for legal guidance…