Groups Take Their Concern About Toxic Schools to D.A.

Parent and employee groups upset with the way the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has been handling the contamination at a three-school campus in Malibu are taking their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

A group called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, along with parent-led group Malibu Unites, released independent testing in July that shows the levels of PCB contamination in construction materials are higher than the district’s consultants revealed.

The school district responded, saying PEER and Malibu Unites are “scaring a community.” Officials said over the summer, many of the classrooms were determined safe. Some parents were skeptical, holding a celebrity-studded press conference to demand more testing.

Now the two groups that sponsored the independent testing is trying to get local prosecutors involved.

A press release from PEER says the Environmental Crimes Section of the District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the latest test results for possible violations of law, including maintaining a public nuisance, child endangerment and failing to disclose a serious concealed danger.

“We are frustrated that politics and fear of liability have prevented both our school district and EPA from protecting our children and teachers from exposure to cancer-causing PCBs,” Jennifer deNicola, president of Malibu Unites, a nonprofit made up of parents, scientists and citizens for safe schools, said in a statement. “We have turned to the Los Angeles District Attorney to seek enforcement of the law.”’

A spokeswoman from the D.A.’s office confirmed receipt of the complaint but declined further comment.

A press release from the district dated Aug. 15 said, “The district is meeting EPA national guidelines to protect public health from PCBs in schools by addressing the human exposure pathways of greatest concern, namely air, dust and soil.”

PHOTO Malibu High School. Patch fie photo.