The parents of current and former students at PS 51, the Bronx New School, say they are not satisfied with the Department of Education’s response after discovering high levels of toxins at school’s former building in Bedford Park. Next week, in response to the DOE’s lack of response, they will take their list of complaints to the Panel for Education Policy meeting at the Bronx High School of Business next Wednesday evening.

In early August, the DOE announced the discovery of toxins at 3200 Jerome Ave. in Bedford Park, PS 51’s home since the early 1990s. Later that month, DOE officials, including Chancellor Dennis Walcott, told parents that their kids’ school would be transplanted to a former Catholic school building in Crotona. Parents say Walcott agreed to meet with them to discuss any issues they might have.

Now, parents say they have yet to meet with Walcott to address several issues and concerns stemming from the discovery of contamination at their former building as well as the move to Crotona.

On Wednesday, accompanied by State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Councilman Oliver Koppell, parents will hand-deliver a “Back to School List” of concerns to Walcott and demand action. The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coaliton is helping parents organize the rally at Bronx High School of Business, 240 E. 172nd St. at 6:15 p.m.

Here’s text from the press release sent out earlier today:

One month into the school year, current and former parents of PS 51 The Bronx New School are tired of waiting on the DOE for full disclosure of and accountability for the toxic contamination at their former (3200 Jerome Ave) and current (695 182nd St) school facilities. They will bring a “Back to School List” of their concerns to him personally at the next Panel for Educational Policy meeting. On the list is medical monitoring and a registry for all current and former parents and their children, comprehensive testing of trichloroethelyne (TCE) and perchloroethelyne (PCE) at their former and current school sites to determine the full extent of contamination and exposure, and much-needed facilities improvements for the current school site. Parents also want a protocol for parent engagement in future incidences of school contamination and unified regulations for comprehensive environmental review of DOE leased and owned school facilities. They want Chancellor Walcott to make good on his commitment to meet with PS 51 parents to further address their specific concerns. PS 51 parents have had enough of the DOE playing with their children’s lives and educational futures.