Northern Valley Update
Nov 13, 2007
NV Suburbanite Error To Be Corrected
The article about testing at St. Anthony's which appeared in this week's Suburbanite was not accurate. The district did not "hire" Dr. Rosen to conduct a study. A correction will be printed in next week's edition of the Suburbanite.
August 1, 2007
New Jersey Department of Heath Offers to Assist Special Education Program
The Indoor Environments Program of the State of New Jersey has offered Northern Valley Regional High School assistance in resolving the concerns at St. Anthony’s school in Northvale. Joseph D. Eldridge M.P.H., the Program Manager, contacted the district after reviewing the PEOSH Consultation that the State Department of Health and Senior Services provided earlier this month. Mr. Eldridge indicated that he is willing to represent the State and participate with Dr. Rosen’s Task Force which was initiated by the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center based at the Hackensack University Medical Center.
Dr. Furman, Superintendent of Schools indicated “We are all cooperating and trying to pool the resources available to the district to find an answer to the issues. We appreciate the State Department’s help.” The school district will continue to bring together professionals that can guide both the Special Education Program and the Archdiocese in identifying a safe school environment.
Mr. Eldridge is willing to work with the Archdiocese environmental consultant PMK Group to facilitate testing as a result of the concerns described by staff members of the special education program. At the same time, he has offered to participate in any manner appropriate with Dr. Rosen to assist in his survey of staff. The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center’s consultant, Dr. Rosen is beginning interviews with staff that will assist in determining the possibility of connecting environmental issues and births of children with learning disabilities. The survey that will be used for staff can be downloaded here.
The students and staff have been moved to alternative sites for the September opening of school. Dr. McKeon, the program director, appreciates all the help “we have seen a tremendous effort by the Northern Valley Board of Education to be understanding and supportive, while the administration seeks advice from environmental and medical experts to guide their future facility decisions for staff and students.”
The Northern Valley Regional High School District, in cooperation with the regional elementary superintendents, continue to maintain the goal of providing special educational services for local students at a reasonable cost while encouraging students with disabilities to pursue participation in their local public school main stream educational classrooms. The district is confident that our current plan for September meets the needs of students. Future decision on facilities will be dependent on the survey results and department of health agency’s recommendation.
The following websites are helpful resources.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/iep/
http://www.pmkgroup.com/company_management.aspx
http://www.dienviro.com/index.aspx
http://www.thewholechild.us/about.html
July 28,2007
Read the PDF version of the PEOSH consultation report at St. Anthony's school. Please note that since the time the report was sent, Mr. Jacobus provided PEOSH with the completed NJOSH 300 logs for the school, so the only hazard noted in the report has already been corrected.
July 23, 2007
Northern Valley Board Supports Valley and PIE Special Education Programs with Answers regarding Program Facilities
Dr. Furman and the Northern Valley Board of Education approved a plan Monday night to relocate students from St. Anthony’s in Northvale to several locations while continuing to work with the Archdiocese to answer questions regarding perceived environmental issues and staff children born with learning disabilities.
Dr. Furman indicated “we have followed a path that will guide the Northern Valley Board of Education as the representative of Region III school districts to a facility arrangement that assures staff, students, and parents that the building housing the Valley and PIE Special Education programs are compliant and environmentally stable. " Northern Valley and St. Anthony’s have been able to agree that some time is necessary to define testing and collect information regarding the concerns raised by the staff.
St. Anthony’s has contracted PMK Environmental Services to conduct tests at their school facility while Northern Valley has continued to work with Dr. Rosen of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center to survey the staff and collect relevant health data. Dr. Rosen indicated that his Task Force would need some time to draw a conclusion regarding possible testing at the site. The District’s plans to relocate students in September will allow everyone time to evaluate their concerns, while providing a comfort level for staff and parents.
The District will expand its use of Our Lady of Victories in Harrington Park and use classroom space at both St. Andrews and The Community Church in the same town. In order to fulfill all the facilities needs the district will also lease a classroom in Haworth and Old Tappan Public Schools. St. Anthony’s has been part of the PIE program for 30 years.
John McKeon indicated “this has been a wonderful working relationship for many years and many students have enjoyed an educational program that has allowed them to show educational success and develop their talent. ” Northern Valley is making transportation arrangements for students at the new locations. The program relocation has been supported by the NJ Department of Education’s Bergen County Office. The District considers this a temporary solution at this time. Northern Valley will continue to work towards a reasonable long term solution that accommodates student needs and community resources.
July 15, 2007
Northern Valley Board Finalizing Plan for a September School Opening
Dr. Furman is thankful for all the input and cooperation from many people regarding the recent concerns at St. Anthony’s School in Northvale, which the district leases for special education programs. The District has been fortunate to have the Board of Education, the town of Northvale, State Health Services, the Archdiocese, local superintendent’s, NVEA, and Dr. Rosen in cooperation with the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center all have provided meaningful dialogue and offered to help. The District is working with its risk manager and attorney to expedite a plan that would relocate the students in the program to alternate sites until the district and the Archdiocese can understand any environmental concerns. The District understands that the Archdiocese has contracted with an environmental engineering firm to begin a Phase I assessment of the property which will review the history of land use and possible base testing. In the mean time, the District is working with Dr. Rosen to establish a formal data collection methodology, which would help evaluate the concerns of teachers regarding children being born with learning disabilities. Dr. Rosen has suggested other professionals that are interested and can help including those at Mount Sinai in New York and UMDNJ in Newark. Dr. Rosen feels that establishing a Task Force to moderate and summarize the situation will help educate everyone on learning disabilities, environmental science, and provide a summary of possible action to remedy the situation. The District’s plan to relocate students in September allows everyone some time to evaluate the concerns while providing a comfort level for staff and parents.
A copy of the recent letter sent to all PIE employees can be downloaded here
June 22, 2007
Angela Musella, Health Officer for Northvale, provided Northern Valley High School District with an update on the CDC and epidemiological assistance. Ms. Musella indicates that she contacted Somini John, Epidemiologist f or Bergen County and reviewed the details regarding St Anthony’s in Northvale. Ms. Somini stated that the State would require a PEOSH inspection prior to making any recommendation. Ms. Somini indicated that she would attempt to identify a professional that could provide epidemiological services. Ms. Musella was informed by Ms. Somini that it was not appropriate for Ms. Musella to contact the CDC but indicated the request should come from the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services.
PEOSH
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Program, Consultation Project is a new service. The purpose of the Consultation Project is to help employers provide a safe and healthful work environment for employees free from recognized hazards. The Consultation Project serves as a source of information and technical assistance for employers. The Consultation Project helps employers identify, evaluate, and prevent hazardous workplace conditions and work practices that may cause injury and illness in the workplace.
WABC Eyewitness News
(New Jersey -WABC, June 19, 2007) - We've heard of cancer clusters, but one community in New Jersey is raising a flag about an autism cluster.
The unusually high rate of autism involves teachers at a school in Northvale, New Jersey.
An informal poll taken by officials at St. Anthony's revealed that 14 of 39 children born to faculty members since 1997 had a learning disability -- three were diagnosed as autistic and 11 experienced speech and language delays. The poll relied partly on teachers' recollections.
St. Anthony's has served children with varying degrees of autism for 30 years, and currently has about 100 students. The property is owned by the Newark Archdiocese and leased by the Northern Valley Regional High School District, which administers the program.
Testing options for the building were scheduled to be discussed at a meeting Tuesday night. In the meantime, summer programs have been moved out of the building, Superintendent Jan Furman told The Record of Bergen County.
The archdiocese has conducted twice-yearly asbestos tests as required by law, spokesman Jim Goodness told the newspaper, and the school district conducted an air quality test that revealed no irregularities. Health officials said the school will also be examined for lead and volatile organic compounds.
"What I've been told is it's learning disabilities encompassing physical handicaps, neurological, autism and a broad spectrum," borough health officer Angela Musella said. "The bottom line is you can't draw any conclusion. We are still gathering information."
A federal study made public earlier this year found New Jersey had the highest rate of autism ever recorded in the United States: one in 94 children, and one in 60 boys. The overall rate in 14 states surveyed was one in 150 children. In New Jersey, a study released in 2000 could not find a cause for a high number of autism cases in Brick Township.
"All the lead people involved in the study said they understand the rates are higher, but they're not sure what's making the difference," said Dr. Walter Zahorodny, director of the New Jersey Autism Study and assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
(Copyright 2007 WABC-TV)
Summary of Northvale Meeting
June 19, 2007
The Mayor of Northvale, John Hogan, opened the meeting by bringing everyone in the room up-to-date on the facts and clearing up any misperceptions or miscommunications people may have had when they to the meeting.
Paul Kenny, the Environmental Consultant for the Borough of Northvale, spoke about the location of two dump sites in Northvale and the preliminary phase of the environmental investigation of these sites. He made recommendations about possible testing and soil boring on the St. Anthony site. Mr. Kenny was asked for a formal proposal to test for lead, soil sampling, radiological and pesticide testing to be included in a Phase I environmental study. Baseline tests will be conducted to determine if there are any indicators in the building or on the property. Father Jerry, as representative for the Archdioceses shared that the proposed testing would be approved.
The Board of Health Official for Northvale, Angela Musella, shared the records in the Health Department have been reviewed. There have been no reports or complaints raised about the St. Anthony site or the surrounding neighborhood to the Health Department or to the EPA until this current concern. It was also clarified by Mayor Hogan that the school was built in 1957 and has been in continuous operation as either a Catholic elementary school or leased by the current program to this date. A representative from the Archdiocese provided background information about the history of the site before the school was built. Specifically, an old church had been on the site, and before that it was a wooded, undeveloped area. The Archdiocese has owned this piece of land for over 100 years.
Ms. Musella stated that the Public Employee Occupational Health and Safety Administration (PEOHSA) will be doing an environmental study. The Health Official, along with the Superintendent of the Regional High School District, has made attempts to contact an epidemiologist either through the County, the State or the CDC. Mayor Hogan offered to assist in this effort. A parent in the audience indicated she had the name of someone form the CDC in Atlanta. The Health Official will follow up and work with the parties on this matter.
Ms. Musella stated that one of the major challenges to remediation of this issue is defining learning disabilities. The disabilities as reported at this time consist of a spectrum of issues from children with autistic like characteristics to children on the autistic spectrum, those with developmental disabilities, gross motor delays, and hearing impairment.
A long-time resident pointed out that there is a concentration of satellite dishes in the Borough of Northvale. The Health Official reported that the radiological screening would begin to address this concern.
The timeline for testing is as follows:
• The proposal from the environmental engineer is expected to be available to the Northern Valley Regional High School District officials by Thursday, June 21. It will be shared with the Archdiocese and the Borough. It is anticipated that the Board of Education of the high school district will approve this testing at its meeting on June 25.
• Results of the testing will be available at the end of July. Once they become available, the results will be posted on this website.
Additional information can be found at the Borough of Northvale website by clicking here