General News
Union helps restore order after fire ravages school
Jan 17, 2008 10:24 AM
Surveying the fire damage to a classroom are (from left) UFT Health and Safety Director Ellie Engler, District 21 Representative Judy Gerowitz, City Councilman Dominic Recchia, UFT Director of Communications Chris Policano and Chapter Leader Lisa Valenti.
A fire, allegedly set by a 13-year-old student at IS 228 in Brooklyn, completely destroyed a second-floor classroom at the school and damaged five others on Jan 7. Two students and a custodian were treated for smoke inhalation.
UFT District 21 Representative Judy Gerowitz joined Chapter Leader Lisa Valenti and other school staffers at the school as soon as the late afternoon blaze was reported and remained until midnight assessing damage.
UFT Staff Director LeRoy Barr, Gerowitz, UFT Middle School Vice President Richard Farkas, Health and Safety Director Ellie Engler and a Division of School Facilities environmental consultant were back on the scene at 6 a.m. the following morning after work crews sent in by the DSF worked through the night in an intensive clean-up process. They toured the building with the principal to determine the safety of the Gravesend school for staff and students.
Barr addressed the entire school staff in two meetings to explain the clean-up process including: environmental testing, rechecking the fire system, cleaning of the duct system, providing negative air machines to remove the smoke odor and the potential health effects of the smoke.
Engler provided the technical information related to the cleanup.
Staff were encouraged to remain in the cafeteria, auditorium and play yard to avoid any potential irritants. They were also advised to see a doctor and obtain a note if they felt ill.
It was determined not to send students to the three relocation sites indicated by the school’s safety plan because those schools were all involved in testing. Instead, the union agreed with the Department of Education that students and staff would use the cafeteria, auditorium and, because the weather was so good, the schoolyard.
Classes resumed on Jan. 9 after the union’s reassessment that the building was safe for reoccupancy.
Fire marshals have arrested the student who allegedly threw pieces of burning paper into a wooden coat closet while attending an after-school program.
After Gerowitz and Engler reinspected the school, Engler said, “Division of School Facilities should be commended for their heroic efforts in cleaning and opening the school in a timely fashion.”
