Although construction to replace outdated structures at Torrey Pines Elementary School has been under way since December, some parents have recently become concerned with the health and safety of their children as well as the overall learning environment on campus.
The school has made every effort to mitigate impacts from building crews, which tore down seven old bungalows over winter break and are in the process of building eight new structures, according to Jim Solo, Torrey Pines Elementary School principal.
“We have told staff that if they have children that are complaining [about construction] in a certain location that they can move to another location by pairing up with another teacher or using the school library,” Solo said. “Teachers know they can use their professional judgment to do that and they don’t have to ask, but so far none have felt they needed to leave their classrooms.”
The school has only received two complaints since construction began, both of which occurred during the third week of February, Solo said. After the complaints were received, Solo sent out a letter to parents dated Feb. 27 stating that construction should last through late April.
Parents, however, have asserted that construction is going on primarily during school hours outside of a unit of classrooms that contains kindergarten through fourth grade “” a set-up that poses noise distractions and health risks for children.
One concerned mother of a Torrey Pines Elementary first-grader said her child had to leave school early due to headache and fatigue resulting from classroom windows being closed to keep out construction dust and debris.
The woman wished to remain anonymous because she had been informed that by seeking answers from the construction company and other outside sources, she had broken school rules and instead should have communicated her concerns to the principal.
A timeframe for construction is selected for individual schools within the San Diego Unified School District by placing schools that require renovations to be completed sooner on a summer construction schedule to move them along faster.
The noisiest part of construction at Torrey Pines Elementary occurred during mid-February and included jackhammers and cement trucks, the parent said. Children were supervised heavily while crossing between asphalt trucks from the playground to the school buildings, she said.
As of March 3, a plastic sheet had been attached to a fence, blocking asphalt debris from blowing into nearby classrooms and greatly improving the situation, the mother said.
A sign with the construction contractor information has not been posted, and one parent has suggested that schedule flexibility for crews to work during nonschool hours should be used as part of the bidding process negotiations.
For information about San Diego Unified School District and Torrey Pines Elementary School, visit www.sandi.net./torreypines.