Elementary School Children are Subjected Daily to Dangerous Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide
- Susan Heavilin
- 31 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I used to be an elementary school teacher. If I had to teach at Berry Elementary School in the Tijuana River Valley, I would refuse to come to work until the South Bay Union School District found a new safe place for the students to attend school.
Berry Elementary—home of the Berry Jaguars— is less than 1/2 mile from the Tijuana River. The river is full of raw sewage flowing out of Mexico and reeks. More than reeks. The children are breathing that stench and it could have possible effects on their current and future health.
The hydrogen sulfide levels are reading about 100 parts per billion in the day and 400 at night. Anything over 30 parts per billion is extremely dangerous. The children should be kept inside at all times but they are sent outside to play at recess.
My horseshoer has a daughter attending that school. He says he's gotten used to the stench. I don't think that is a good omen, they're still breathing poisoned air.
Would you allow your child to attend school under these circumstances? I wouldn't. And I wouldn't subject my own health to that either.
The South Bay Union School District is acting irresponsibly and District Superintendent Jose Espinoza should have his feet held to the fire until he remedies the situation. He is abusing the health of these poor children.
Student enrollment is down (I wonder why) and the staff hasn't received a pay raise in three years. This is no way to run a school. The students should be bused to another school to be educated until the problelm is solved.
Read the Border Report for more information on the hydrogen sulfide levels and a video.
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