Dr. Stan
Dersize-Tester, Superintendent of schools Ramford County calls the meeting to
order and reminds the group that their normal agenda has been suspended to hear
a report from the task force to examine the potential causes of the trend of
excessive student absences from many schools in the city of Ramford.
Dr. Bea
Ontime, Chair of the City of Ramford Principals association, and head of the
task force, discusses the continuation of the disturbing trend in increase
student absences because of respiratory problems (bronchitis, asthma, upper
respiratory infections).
Dr. Faith
Infairplay, member of the task force and head of RASS the Ramford Association of
School Sports adds that there has also been an increase in numbers of students
who are unable to effectively compete in organized athletics such as football,
baseball, soccer, track and field etc.
Dr. Bea
Ontime has invited Dr. Epi Glottis from the Ramford Department of Health (DOH)
and Dr. Odum Niche from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to
discuss the results of a five year air quality study at four stations in the
city of Ramford.
Dr. Niche
reports that data indicate and increase in the number of Ozone alert days
suggesting that there has been a degradation of air quality in the city.
The
principals express concern and question the potential linkage between the air
quality and the trend in absenteeism. Dr.
Glottis reports that the study is just beginning to investigate this and asks
Dr. Dersize-Tester’s help in providing data to the DOH and DEP.
Dr. Dersize-Tester agrees to help the study in any way possible by providing any
data that the DEP and DOH need.
Dr. Niche
and Dr. Glottis leave the meeting at 11:45 AM.
Discussion
of the issue continues. Dr. Bea
Ontime and a group of principals tell all the members of the Association that
they believe that the any improvement in the air quality in the city will have a
positive affect on respiratory problems, absences, and the sports programs.
They ask
the Association to consider a motion to support BREATH - Bring Ramford’s
Effected Air To Health - the group that is in favor of banning all vehicular
traffic from downtown Ramford.
The
motion passes and it is agreed that Dr. Bea Ontime contact the offices of BREATH
to coordinate activities.
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