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Cooper/Emerson/Franklin
Topic Started: Dec 8 2005, 09:13 AM (2,864 Views)
mom of 3
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I'm with you!
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grantmom
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Me too!
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Tyler_Parent
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For those that have not read the article posted by rmille26
rmille26 Posted: Nov 16 2005
02:09 PM

Article on "Old" Cooper:
How does one transform oneself from a mother of two to a mother for an entire community? Cheryl Graunstadt did just that. She is the mother of two daughters, works for an insurance agency, is an environmental activist, and is the only woman serving on the Westland City Council. Her story is similar to that of Erin Brockovich: a mother with no formal education, making an impact in her town and a difference in the lives of her children and many others.
In May 1991, Graunstadt received a letter from the principal stating that Cooper School, the school attended by her two daughters and approximately 300 other children, was built over a landfill. The letter claimed that investigations had been made and there was no danger. Graunstadt decided to show this letter to Joan Lintelman, a friend who was more involved with environmental issues, and the two of them went to the school to look at the property.
They discovered glass and metal coming out of the ground intermixed with the gravel and stone on the play-ground. Behind the property, they found something even more alarming: orange ooze coming out of the ground known as leachate.
Leachate occurs when rain soaks into the ground and mixes with chemicals. The Michigan DNR, which had been doing its own investigations, suggested that the school take action, and within days after the letter was sent out an 8' fence was erected around the playground. Given the school's claim that there was no danger, this seemed like an extreme measure to Graunstadt and Lintelman, raising their suspicions.
That Monday, Graunstadt and Lintelman went to the Wayne County Health Department to find information on Cooper School. The file was 2" thick and contained information about cancer statistics and the rate of cancer in children exposed to certain chemicals and toxins.
Graunstadt could not believe it - it just seemed so unreal to her. "Of all the things I thought I had to worry about," she said, "sending my children to a site of contamination was not one of them." Graunstadt and Lintelman gathered information and made copies to bring to the upcoming PTA meeting.
At the meeting, Graunstadt faced new challenges and opposition. The meeting was packed with parents and even a camera crew. While she had some supporters, she was shocked to find she also had a lot of opposition from many of the parents. Graunstadt was accused of causing trouble by challenging the status quo, and people shouted out that she should just move if she didn't like the school.
For someone who describes herself as being shy and reserved, speaking out was a difficult task. But, in the midst of the yelling and the cameras, Graunstadt was able to muster the courage to do it. "You find strength within you that you never thought you had," she said. "I was like a mother bear fighting for my cubs." Graunstadt and other concerned parents decided to form a group to protest the School Board's lack of action concerning Cooper School.
The work of the group took over Graunstadt's life and turned it upside down. There were numerous meetings, with people coming and going from her house. She photocopied the papers she had taken from the file at the Health Department for all interested parents of the group. The group made flyers, buttons, and T-shirts and even picketed the school board. This lasted all summer long.
Their efforts paid off: That September, a new round of testing was done, and the Board decided to move the children to an empty building across the street. Eventually, all 40 acres of Cooper School were fenced in, the school was shut down, and warning signs were posted.
The long-term effects of being exposed to the landfill pollution aren't known, and many parents remain concerned. Graunstadt's eldest daughter experienced hair loss in fourth grade, hives in sixth, and a seizure in high school. No doctor was able to explain the cause of these health problems.
A high percentage of children who attended Cooper School have learning disabilities. The state never did a health study, so there is no way to know if these incidents are directly related to attending a school built on a landfillll, but parents can't help but wonder.
After the Cooper School incident, Graunstadt became involved in other environmental issues, including fighting an incinerator built next to Federal Elementary School in Dearborn Heights. After her work on Cooper School, Graunstadt gained confidence and was not afraid to speak out. She began to attend City Council meetings and write letters to the local paper to express her concerns on environmental issues. In 2001, a friend suggested she run for City Council.
This shocked Graunstadt, who thought of herself as a reserved mother, with no interest in politics. However, through her experiences, Graunstadt had become a mother to more than just her daughters, but a mother to all the Cooper School children. She was active in her community, no longer afraid to challenge injustice, and able to see herself as someone who could make a difference. In 2001 she ran for City Council and received more votes than any other candidate in the city.
When asked what motivated her to become so involved with her community when she never had been before, Graunstadt's response was that it was mostly for her two daughters: "I didn't want my girls to be afraid to question things like I was." In this time of apathy, she wanted to show the next generation that you should care about your environment and that one person can make a difference.
Monica Heger is a student in the University of Michigan School of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
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grantmom
Principal
If any of the school properites are to be sold, Cooper should be the first to go.
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grantmom
Principal
We need to keep the fight to close Cooper in the forefront. Please continue to post on this topic.
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chelseabelle
3rd Grade
rmille26
Dec 11 2005, 06:20 PM
What if a good majority of us that are proposed to go to Cooper stand up and say "HECK NO WE WON'T GO"  do you think the board might reconsider this proposal.  I see that alot of you are conserned about Cooper.  All of you should google airborne particles.  If you weren't scared about Cooper you should be now.  Also do all of you know that the Cooper school that we are proposed to go to has not been tested since 1991.  Do you think that they are not testing it on purpose. The Board of Education DOESN'T want to know.

I am very scared to send my daughter to Cooper after reading all the valuable information that has been posted. THANK YOU!!!

All I can say is SHAME on the BOE!! How can they say they have the best interest of our children, when it is clear they DO NOT.

If the site is fine, then why don't they have an independent company evaluate the property and publicaly announce their findings?

There has to be other options. Why isn't the BOA willing to look into any?

My concern is not only for the children that will be going there next year, but also the children that go there now. Something needs to be done NOW!
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MOMOFTHREE
Principal
The BOE is not willing to look into testing because they are afraid of what they may find and any past/future legalities that may come along with sending children to school in a contaminated area.
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grantmom
Principal
I have to say I am completely dismayed by the Cooper teacher who spoke tonight at the BOE meeting. Does she honestly think this is a Westland issue? What about the comments made about pregnant teachers having healthy babies? Does she not understand that health problems sometimes do not arise for years down the road and not all will be affected. I understand ones need to be protective of their school, but what about the protection of our children.
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lpsproposalsrbad
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Hey Ya'll,

I'm in Alabama on business right now.

One thing to consider in all of this is, the BOE is proposing to dump 600,000 into Cooper, to get it up to snuff. When the BOE is questioned about opening up Dickenson for those in the west/ northwest, they shoot it down saying it'll be to costly @ $800,000.

What is the better investment?

Cooper needs to go bye bye & Dickenson needs to open.
Laurel Park Place is only hazardous to your wallet.


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c3hull
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grantmom
Dec 19 2005, 08:53 PM
I have to say I am completely dismayed by the Cooper teacher who spoke tonight at the BOE meeting. Does she honestly think this is a Westland issue? What about the comments made about pregnant teachers having healthy babies? Does she not understand that health problems sometimes do not arise for years down the road and not all will be affected. I understand ones need to be protective of their school, but what about the protection of our children.

I feel the same way. She was so "out there" is was almost sad! I have read just about every post on this website and I have NEVER heard one mention about the Cooper teachers being less qualified than any other in LPS. I have no idea where she got here thoughts from, definitely not from here!
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Rose
Principal
grantmom
Dec 19 2005, 08:53 PM
I have to say I am completely dismayed by the Cooper teacher who spoke tonight at the BOE meeting. Does she honestly think this is a Westland issue? What about the comments made about pregnant teachers having healthy babies? Does she not understand that health problems sometimes do not arise for years down the road and not all will be affected. I understand ones need to be protective of their school, but what about the protection of our children.

Sometimes it takes time for genes to mutate and disabilities do not show up until children (our children) have children. It's really scary! Do you think any teachers will oppose to being transferred to Cooper?
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grantmom
Principal
Rose
Dec 20 2005, 10:48 AM
grantmom
Dec 19 2005, 08:53 PM
I have to say I am completely dismayed by the Cooper teacher who spoke tonight at the BOE meeting.  Does she honestly think this is a Westland issue? What about the comments made about pregnant teachers having healthy babies?  Does she not understand that health problems sometimes do not arise for years down the road and not all will be affected. I understand ones need to be protective of their school, but what about the protection of our children.

Sometimes it takes time for genes to mutate and disabilities do not show up until children (our children) have children. It's really scary! Do you think any teachers will oppose to being transferred to Cooper?

Exactly!
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Grant
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What I dont seem to understand with this whole situation is this, why not take all the risk and controversy out of it and just close the D*** school!

Is it worth risking childrens health over this thing? The answer is simple NO! I just dont understand. Its a money issue like it always boils down to. I mean the powers that be are worried over $200,000? Im sorry but $200,000 is nothing when it comes to running a City im sure. Actually for that matter neither is $2million dollars, the money they hope to save next year.

I say...they need to close Cooper and open Dickenson and they can all find the frickin $200,000 from somewhere else. If they are so interested in doing what is right for the children...then they will. I vote they take it our of their own pockets!

I for one am so sick and tired of the mentality of....this is what your going to do..now go be happy and make it successful. I want to see more involvement from the BOE. I want them on the transistion teams and directing traffic in the morning in the over crowded parking lots, have them ride a LPS bus 45 min to and from work everyday with our children. I want them to work in an office that was built on a Toxic Waste dump for awhile and then they change offices and procedures every two years...would they like to go thru that? Nobody would. Oh but wait...our children do!


What does anyone think of a fundraising event to raise the $200,000? Its an idea anyway.
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bmom
Principal
Grant
Dec 20 2005, 02:22 PM
What does anyone think of a fundraising event to raise the $200,000?  Its an idea anyway.

I would sell or buy for this cause for sure!!! You know, if every student paid $100.00 we wouldn't be having to go thru all this. 18,000 x $100=1.8 mill. I for one would be willing to pay $100 to not go thru the K-4 plan. I'm sure some would not agree. A really simple solution that the brilliant Demo Comm and the BOE did not come up with.
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Rose
Principal
Good ideas folks. But as far as people donating $100 the BOE would shoot that down right away. Unfortunately, there are parents that would not give money. But the $100 from everyone would sure give us a year to figure this thing out. The fundraiser also sounds like a good idea. I am not very creative, does anyone have any suggestions? But then again, if we raised the money the BOE would shoot us down again. I am very angry right now. I cannot even express myself in a way that would be suitable for this forum. OK, their "legacy" has been voted on and approved. But what the heck are they thinking sending our children to Cooper? Do they not have a brain in their heads? Your right fyi, they are afraid of lawsuits if they test the ground. There has got to be a way to get this ground tested to know what the dangers may be. Anyone have any ideas?
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