Concerns about Moncton High reached province

More details are emerging about teachers' concerns over air quality at the 75-year-old Moncton High School.

CBC News has obtained copies of teachers' complaints that suggest health problems have been a concern among dozens of teachers at the school over at least the past three years.

Letters have also been sent by the head of the parent school support committee asking the province for help addressing the concerns.

In addition, a 2009 architectural report recommended that the school's roof, floors and walls be replaced; upgrades be made to the attic and exterior stonewalls; and plaster walls containing asbestos be removed.

Some of the rooms in the school, which is located on Church Street north of downtown and has about 1,200 students, have been closed because they don't meet modern fire codes.

Repairs have been done, school district says

Representatives of School District 2, which oversees Moncton High, say they have been working to address the teachers' concerns and that 250 repairs have been done over the past 18 months.

But former parents committee member Devon Babineau says the repairs are not enough and that teachers and parents continue to have concerns about the condition of the school. 

"Any parent out here should really go have a look for themselves and really understand what their kids are spending eight hours a day in. They really should," said Babineau, who has had three children attend the school. 

"And if their kids are not feeling well, they should be questioning the environment that they're spending eight hours a day in."

Babineau first became aware of the health problems four years ago and wrote a letter to New Brunswick premier asking him to help the school.

"There were a lot of concerns about teachers being sick often and whether it was sinus problems or headaches. A few of them were complaining about being dizzy," she said. "There are teachers that had actually moved from some classrooms into others and did find a difference."

WorkSafeNB said it received a complaint about conditions at the school from a teacher in September. A spokesperson said since then, the organization has heard from other teachers and now, a parent has filed a complaint.

Teachers are relieved the issue is finally being addressed, said Noreen Bonnell, president of the New Brunswick Teachers Association.

"Everyone now is taking this very seriously and taking steps to investigate and hopefully try to come to a solution," she said.

A consultant's report from Ontario-based CS&P Architects looking into whether the historic building should be torn down, renovated or expanded is due to be released next week.

The firm has already said it could cost $48 million to bring the school up to building code, which is double the cost of building a new school. Many new schools are expected to have a 30-year life span.

The school district is expected to respond to the latest developments at Moncton High late Monday.