Keeping on keeping on despite pandemic times By Dorothy Wigmore Mold in the ceiling? Expected to use toxic chemicals, especially without training or protective gear? Dealing with poor ventilation and…
Prevention must go further too By Dorothy Wigmore In late January, Morris Knolls High School got a scare. A student brought a device resembling a 9-mm gun to school. It…
Dealing with cold stress – inside and outside By Dorothy Wigmore Temperatures hover near freezing during the day and below it at night. Snowstorms are predicted. Or maybe it’s freezing…
A longstanding problem is even worse during COVID-19 By Debra Coyle If you work in a New Jersey school, you’ve probably witnessed firsthand the problem of overcrowded classrooms. Students scrambling for…
By Dorothy Wigmore “One, two, three, four. We don’t want the mercury floor.” That’s essentially the message more and more New Jersey school staff, their union and community-based advocates are…
By Dorothy Wigmore "Local leaders should ask the administration about those rubberized floors," says Tracie Yostpille. "If you have them, they need to be tested." As president of Freehold Township…
By Dorothy Wigmore The evidence is in. The pandemic is taking a huge toll on education workers’ mental health. Physical health is next. Recent surveys in New Jersey, Canada and…
It’s way overdue! By Dorothy Wigmore School drinking water. “Building back better.” Environmental racism. They’re all involved in accelerating efforts to “get the lead out.” They’ve been helped by calls…
ESP experiences in the pandemic By Dorothy Wigmore It’s not easy being an educational support professional (ESP) in this pandemic. For many ESPs, too often, it’s a hard choice: paychecks…
But health and safety questions must be addressed By Dorothy Wigmore Asking questions is important these days. Many deal with pandemic health and safety issues for education staff and students.…