MONTREAL – The Commission Scolaire de Montréal sent a notice on Friday to its parents and employees clarifying its plans to check the air quality in its schools following the publication of what it called incorrect information.
A story in the Journal de Montréal revealed that 50 CSDM schools had been targeted as the priority for air quality testing. The school board said no school appears on any list yet.
Mould and air quality problems have forced the evacuation of four CSDM schools this school year.
The latest incident happened this week when students and staff from École St. Gérard in Villeray had to move out of their school.
They likely won’t be able to return to the building for 18 to 24 months.
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The board plans to test air quality in its 227 schools – a time-consuming process that it says will take at least four years.
The board told parents and staff that it plans to allocate $10 million to check air quality, giving priority to schools where there has been water infiltration in the roof structure, masonry work or water in the basement.
It also promised to do a thorough cleaning and remove dust from schools that need it.
“Obviously for each emergency situation, the CSDM will act quickly,” the statement said.
The board says its action plan will be announced on March 19 and will include the schools that are the priority.
With the $10 million the board will be able to tackle about 50 schools in the first year.
The CSDM will have five teams that will work nights and weekends on its air quality program, said board spokesperson Alain Perron.
It will take about six weeks to do the air quality test in a school. Other work has to be done first such as inspecting the building, removing dust, and cleaning the ventilation system, according to Perron.
The Alliance des professeures et professeurs de Montréal, which represents the board’s teachers, says it’s not enough if the board only does 50 schools in a year.
That’s why it’s asking the provincial government for a special budget so that all the CSDM schools are inspected this year, confirmed union spokesperson Yves Parenteau.
CSDM president, Diane De Courcy, President will confirm plans for the school Thursday.
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