Reporting violence and other disturbances

In 1978, in response to school violence and vandalism, the state Legislature passed the Public School Safety Law (N.J.S.A. 18A:17-48), which required New Jersey public schools to report incidents of…

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Help for winning healthy schools

Fredon Education Association and Fredon Parents Against the Lines he Fredon Education Association (FEA) and a local community group came together in 2009 when a proposed PSE&G power line project…

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Radon in schools — a preventable health risk

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor radon among today's most serious environmental health problems. Although there currently are no mandatory radon testing requirements for New Jersey schools, the…

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Old caulk presents PCB risk

Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man-made chemicals that persist in the environment and were widely used in construction materials and electrical products prior to 1978. PCBs can affect the immune…

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Negotiate ergonomics to stop the pain

Many New Jersey public school employees have suffered sprains, strains, muscle tears, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and hernias that could have been avoided with relatively simple changes in workplace…

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Beware “temporary” classrooms

Of the estimated 100,000 public school classrooms in New Jersey, thousands are considered "temporary" – although in truth most of them remain in use indefinitely. While temporary classrooms may sometimes…

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Art Hazards – toxic materials abound

Despite misleading "nontoxic" labels, the truth is that there are toxic ingredients in many art and craft materials. Asbestos-contaminated talc in clays, glazes, and modeling products; silica dust in clay;…

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Help get liquid mercury out of schools

Mercury spills in schools continue to cause dangerous exposures, school evacuations, and costly cleanups. Liquid mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a silvergray heavy metal that vaporizes at room temperature.…

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