Elementary’s poor conditions documented by parents’ group

Terry Webster

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

A group of upset parents voicing health and safety concerns about a Henderson elementary school Thursday presented the Clark County School Board with a thick packet of documented complaints.

Parents said school officials told children Tuesday at David M. Cox Elementary School, 280 Clark Drive, they were "going on a picnic," then led them outside after a construction worker broke a natural gas line near the school.

"When we stepped out of the door, everyone put their shirts over their noses," Lauren Simons, a student, said. "I got a headache right away. All the students outside were complaining of the smell, including me. I think it was very unsafe to be so close to the gas leak."

The children were never told they were being evacuated for an emergency situation, parent Cindy Hoopes said.

Many students reportedly became ill from the fumes and went to the nurse's office.

An on-going health concern also is presenting a disgusting problem for the pupils.

Dr. Scott Boman, a Henderson physician, said "there are human feces in the bathrooms, everywhere but where they are supposed to be. This has occurred over 74 times and has been documented by those who have cleaned up the mess over 74 times."

The situation is opening children up to diseases, and the district could be sued for allowing the problem to continue, he said.

The report states children have had to step over feces to use the rest room. It also indicates they are afraid to use rest rooms because they don't want to be called into the principal's office.

Bowman said the problem has been going on since September and no effective changes have been made. Problems started shortly after the school leadership changed last year, parents said.

The report includes school documents that show teachers are asked to discuss proper rest room habits with children and notices have been sent home to parents.

Others complained of a lack of discipline and of getting a bureaucratic run-around when asking questions.

"This administration would rather respond as if this is just not their problem, anyway," Jim Vinez said.

Others said children are not disciplined for hitting other children.

"In my daughter's class alone, there have been instances where people have been physically attacked," Mary Torrance said. They have been attacked out in the parking lot, and children have been allowed to go undisciplined."

Cox Elementary Principal Beverly J. Daly was in a meeting this morning and could not be reached for comment.

Superintendent Brian Cram said there are always two sides to every story.

"We have to give employees a chance to respond to things like this," he said.

Cram added that if there were any disciplinary action, it would occur through the administration and the School Board would have the right to review it.

Allin Chandler, president of the Clark County Association of School Administrators, said there is no way to tell -- at this point -- how much of the parents' claims are true or false.

Terry Webster covers education for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4091 or by e-mail at terry@lasvegassun.com