Radon concerns lead Tahoe couple to pull children from Zephyr Cove

Lake Tahoe parent Heather Howell stood before the Douglas County School Board on May 21 and explained to its members why she and her husband, Douglas County Planning Commissioner Lawrence Howell, had pulled their two sons from Zephyr Cove Elementary School.

"As parents we felt our children were not safe," she said. "Because the district has taken too long to make radon mitigation a priority, I feel I can no longer trust them to accomplish other things or take care of basic safety needs."

The Howell's two sons, 6 and 9, will now be attending Grace Christian Academy in Minden.

"It's hard to leave the community, but we have to do what's right for our family," said Heather Howell.

Last year, elevated radon levels were discovered in some classrooms at Zephyr Cove Elementary School. The district, advised by the Nevada State Health Division, installed high efficiency particulate air filters to mitigate the odorless, colorless, cancer-causing gas found in soils of decaying granite.

Parents argued that HEPA filtration was not a recommended radon mitigation technique of the Environmental Protection Agency.

In February, board president Teri Jamin wrote a letter to the EPA asking for guidance. EPA officials responded that active soil depressurization, a process of sealing off or redirecting gas away from a building's foundation, was the principal mitigation technique.

At a March meeting, school board members approved the immediate release of a request for proposal to solicit bids from contractors qualified in active soil depressurization. Since that meeting, the request for proposal has not been completed.

District Chief Financial Officer Holly Luna said following the March meeting the district investigated a request for proposal but was advised by the EPA not to pursue one until tests were conclusive.

"The EPA felt the request for proposal would be premature until their team, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, came to the site and gauged the scope of work," she said. "We need a starting baseline to standardize the district radon policy. Until the team makes their assessment, it will be difficult to pursue any kind of request for proposal."

Luna said the team is scheduled to begin work at Zephyr Cove Elementary on June 10. She said they'll spend an estimated four to five days on-site testing and evaluating the current mitigation systems, then make recommendations and help standardize district radon policy.

"Too little too late," said Howell. "I understand that working with the EPA, a government agency, can be slow, but I'm not blaming the EPA. Standard testing can take two to 90 days. The EPA team is arriving 71 days before school begins again. I do not believe the school will be ready by next year. The district should have been more proactive from the beginning."

Howell said parents had requested the district come up with a contingency plan.

"We have asked to have an action item on the agenda each month, to discuss options," she said. "In April, it wasn't on the agenda, and parents raised concerns."

Howell said she and her husband made the decision to remove their children from the school when no radon action item appeared on the May agenda.

However, Superintendent Carol Lark said the item was discussed under the agenda's superintendent report.

"We are waiting on direction from the EPA, following the direction the community requested we move in," she said. "We can't take action on something that hasn't been presented. The board has made sound decisions based on factual information."

Lark said she and the board agreed with parents that Zephyr Cove should not start school in August without a contingency plan.

"The board directed us to come up with this contingency plan," she said. "It's contingent on the findings of the test. I wish it would move faster. I understand the frustration of the parents, but we don't have control over state or federal agencies."

Lark said she was sad to see the Howells go.

"It saddens me deeply," she said. "They are a wonderful family and have been very supportive of the school community. I hope as soon as this is resolved, they will return."