Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Buhler school district officials say the results of interior environmental quality testing show the interior of Buhler Grade School falls well within normal parameters. They say the school is safe for all students and staff.

Officials say certified environmental inspector Steve Moreland will provide his report along with a detailed explanation at a public meeting in the Buhler Grade School gymnasium on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

In a written statement, Superintendent Dan Stiffler says the district regrets any undo alarm surrounding the school and they anxious for students and staff to be free of distractions.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Cancer concerns among parents in one small, where they’re demanding answers as, one by one, teachers at their grade school are diagnosed with the deadly disease.

The Buhler school district has hired an environmental group to test in and around the Buhler Grade School. There is a sense of fear in Buhler. Teachers are getting cancer left and right, and people are getting scared.

Charity Bowman’s daughters go to Buhler Grade School. Each has lost a teacher in the last nine months to cancer.

Bowman says, “There has to be something wrong. I mean, statistics. I can’t imagine this is normal.”

Sources tell us in the last several years, nine teachers or staff at the grade school have been diagnosed with either lung or breast cancer. Three have died from their disease. Lois Schroeder was a friend with all three.

“You are thinking why you would want to teach over there or the children, 'Are any of them going to come up with cancer?’" says Schroeder.

Wednesday night, Buhler district leaders met with staff and sent a letter home with students explaining that, as a precaution, the district hired an environmental agency to collect air, surface, dust and bulk samples to identify any possible environmental quality concerns. The letter also tells parents previous tests at the grade school provided no evidence that students or staff had been exposed to hazardous contaminants of any kind.

While residents are relieved, the district is taking a proactive approach. They still worry about who will be next.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is investigating, trying to come up with answers for concerned parents.