Credible Radon Testing Needed in District 95

In early 2009 I FOIA’d all of the radon tests performed by the , but I was quite concerned to learn that District 95 had performed none.

My concern is driven by the fact that sits in an area that has been identified as either high risk or medium risk for radon gas, depending on the source. Also, homes peppered throughout our community have had high radon readings. Most importantly, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon testing was performed in in the spring of 2009, but as early as spring of 2010, several members of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) committee questioned the validity of the radon tests. Through a recent FOIA, which included numerous emails, it was determined that by January of 2011, the administration was aware of how bad those original tests were.

The administration used only a total of 19 canisters throughout . An outside consultant recommended over 600 canisters, which is consistent with Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) guidelines. Further, standard protocols were not followed by District 95. District 95’s results are so grossly inadequate that no reasonable person could believe they are valid, yet the original test results still appear on all IAQ reports and have so for at least three quarters since District 95 became aware of the failures.

Also, indicates in our IAQ management plan: “Radon testing has been performed in all schools in spring of 2009 and all schools were found to have levels well below the national concern level of 4 pCi/L.” There is absolutely no basis for District 95 to believe those test results are accurate or reliable.  

This is a complete fraud on our community, and needs to be called on it. When will our administration stop lying to us regarding the condition of the facilities?

What is even more unbelievable is that last January, was fortunate enough to receive a grant from the IEMA and American Lung Association for radon testing and still has not managed to complete the testing. It is embarrassing that ALA had to repeatedly follow-up with District 95 to determine when we were planning on completing the testing.

Many other school districts that received the grant managed to complete the radon testing within a matter of months. As a result of the grant, the cost per school to do the testing was as low as $15. As of Nov. 3, no member of our facilities staff has even bothered to become certified to conduct the radon testing. The certification is free: you only need to pass the test.

As a point of reference, a member of our community completed the certification to perform radon testing in a matter of an hour. Last week, the ALA asked us to return the unused canisters that they personally delivered as they are now invalid. We abused the gift of the grant and that is inexcusable. Now the administration has the audacity to tell us they need to do a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether we will test to learn if we have elevated radon in our schools.

The children in attend schools with significant cracks in the foundation, spend a large portion of their day in basement classrooms, and Ruck Pate, District 95’s architectural firm, has stated that May Whitney lacks the capacity to adequately ventilate. All of these things increase the risk of radon exposure. It is absolutely disgraceful that this administration would even consider not completing the radon testing.

This is clearly a tone from the top issue for which our School Board is accountable.

— Eileen Maloney