ARLINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Arlington Independent School District said it has found no link between the Nichols Junior High School building and the reported illnesses of its students staff.
In a statement, the district cited the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which stated that the teachers might be experiencing heightened awareness, which causes people to notice symptoms only after hearing others talk about them.
The district is facing a lawsuit filed by the NAACP, students and staff. The lawsuit alleges that the district has not done enough to address the issue.
Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents some of the plaintiffs, told WFAA TV the heightened awareness claim is insulting.
“To say the complaints within the building are really based on the reaction of other people complaining in the building is obnoxious at best,” he said.
He said the district needs to stop talking past the issue and deal with it head on.
“There saying people are getting sick but we don’t really know what’s causing it so we should look the other way. What the plaintiffs are saying…what my office is saying is that students and staff are getting sick,” he said.
At the height of the complaints, the district brought in outside agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Tarrant County Public Health Department, to run a series of tests on the building.
They rectified some minor mold and air quality issues but parents, students and staff said that is not enough.
The issue will be discussed at tonight’s school board meeting.
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