HOUSTON — The ITC fire and benzene scare had parents and teachers in Houston Independent School District calling for schools to be shut down while crews got control of the situation.
Some nearby districts did cancel classes, but HISD did not.
The Houston Federation of Teachers union is now asking if more should have been done to protect teachers and students.
Zeph Capo, HFT union president, said a number of teachers showed symptoms and some even landed in the hospital.
For instance, Cesar Chavez High School and other schools on the far eastside of the school district remained open as the situation at ITC unfolded.
Schools stopped outdoor activities, but HISD didn’t go as far as canceling classes like other nearby districts.
“I have to question whether that was the best decision or not,” Capo said.
He said there was a great deal of fear and uncertainty during the ITC fire and days that followed.
“The concerns that we were receiving about employees contacting us; that they could literally smell the chemicals and smell the fire in the air,” Capo said.
HISD did provide extra nurses to schools and brought in an outside risk management group and a team to do its own air quality testing.
However, Capo believes schools should have decided what’s best for their students, faculty and staff.
“Rucker Elementary School (is) where we’ve had significant numbers of teachers and students that have been out sick," he said.
Some without pay.
“Particularly our newer teachers that may not have had an opportunity to build up time have actually had to loss salary because they had to take the additional time off,” Capo said.
He’s asking teachers who believe they were affected to file worker’s compensation paperwork with the district.
“Even if it gets denied, even if it’s not, eventually, initially is used because you had to go to the emergency room over the weekend, it is vitally important that you get that on record that during the scope of your duties where you experienced these particular issues,” he said.
The union also is worried about the long-term consequences because schools are funded on an average daily attendance.
Capo said schools that were most impacted by attendance during the ITC situation may lose money next year.
HISD had no comment.
RELATED COVERAGE