Portland Public Schools

The following information has been reviewed to date and provides insight into the due diligence and work that was performed at Harriet Tubman Middle School to prepare the building to receive Faubion K-8 students, as well as maintenance and safety testing work completed during the two years that Faubion was housed at the facility. We have also included information on safety assessments that will take place as part of the effort to prepare the building to open as Harriet Tubman Middle School.

Prior to Faubion occupying Tubman:

1. The Office of School Modernization oversaw approximately $1.1 million dollars in preparatory work prior to the Faubion use of the Tubman campus. This work included asbestos abatement, balancing of air handling units, deep cleaning, etc.
   See Attachment No. 1a, No. 1b
2. A DEQ Fact Sheet entitled “Air Toxics Monitoring at Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy in Portland”, references and summarizes EPA monitoring from 2009 and 2011 at the school. This fact sheet describes the discovery of cadmium in the air and the subsequent tracing to the glass manufacturers which no longer exist. Other air toxics measured were noted as “…below EPA’s level of concern…”.
   See Attachment No. 2

During Faubion occupying Tubman:

3. A February 2016 test ordered by PPS and conducted by PBS Engineering and Environmental for cadmium and arsenic in the air and soil, stated “There were no detectable levels of either cadmium or arsenic reported for any of the air and soil samples”.
   See Attachment No. 3
4. An independent OHA report on soils was published in March 2016 and  concludes “…that exposure to levels of metals in soils around Uroboros Glass are too low to harm the health of people in the surrounding community…”.
   See Attachment No. 4
5. The Harriet Tubman building had a series of roof leaks from rain water in the past two years which seriously inconvenienced the staff. Most leaks occurred repeatedly in the main office area and library. Multiple efforts to patch the roof were not successful. Post- repair mold testing indicated no mold growth in the room tested (105). Upon observation last week, room 105 has leaked again and several library skylights are boarded up.
   See Attachment No. 5a, No. 5b
6. Some of Faubion Principal Jennifer McCalley’s concerns, such as roof leaks, rodent problems, transients, and direction to not have heavy traffic around the back/above the slope to the freeway, are validated by the Risk Management Department’s review of  work orders, injury reports, First Response dispatch records, PPB case number listing, sharps container servicing, discussions, etc.
   See Attachment No. 6a, No. 6b, No. 6c, No. 6d
7. A complete asbestos inventory is on file with the Risk Management Department. Initial short-term radon testing was completed in 2016, no radon levels met an action level, no further action is required for 10 years.
   See Attachment No. 7a, No. 7b

Next steps: air quality and soil stability

8. Background: A geotechnical preliminary analysis was conducted in 2014. The preliminary analysis document was based on a site walk and review of available  historical information about the property. This document includes a review of current conditions/ existing data, possible causes for the settlement/lateral movement that is occurring, potential remedial options/estimate budgets, and additional geotechnical studies required to refine the remedial options.
   June 2017: The contract proposal defining the scope, schedule and fee for the 2-year geotechnical study is per the recommendations of the preliminary analysis document. This study includes installation of three 50-foot deep inclinometers and 24 survey monitoring points to measure settlement/lateral movement (and water level through the piezometers in the inclinometers) over a 2-year period of time.
   Current October 2017: - Inclinometer Initial Reading Update: An initial reading update was requested by the district. The letter provides information about the general subsurface soils and any changes observed in the monitoring instruments between July 9 and September 29, 2017. See Attachment No. 8a, No. 8b, No. 8c
9. Senior leadership at DEQ has been contacted, and PPS has secured a commitment from the Northwest Regional Administrator to enlist the EPA to partner with PPS in designing and conducting air monitoring related to I-5 emissions, along with analysis of monitoring data. An Action Plan is projected to be complete by December 1, 2017. Once developed, the Action Plan will outline the time table to complete the comprehensive analysis. PPS will conduct this work as expeditiously as possible. PPS also recognizes the need to install a high performing HVAC system throughout the building to improve indoor air quality, as well as perform any deferred maintenance that would be required before students and staff occupy the Harriet Tubman building.