Long Beach Parents Protest, Demand Answers for Mysterious Illnesses at Monroe Elementary

Parents at Monroe Elementary School in Long Beach, California, are voicing distress and demanding answers regarding a mysterious illness affecting children in one classroom. Approximately 30 parents and children gathered for a protest outside the school on Friday, expressing frustration over what they describe as a lack of transparency from the school district.

The affected students, primarily in a fourth-grade class, have reported symptoms including headaches, nosebleeds, fatigue, and dizziness. The school building is currently serving as a temporary location for students from Patrick Henry Elementary, which is undergoing renovations.

"We have EIGHT more months of school, and we deserve to send our kids to school with zero doubts that there is cause for concern," parent Katie Jakemer stated on social media.

The Long Beach Unified School District acknowledged the situation in a letter to families, confirming that the classroom teacher experienced dizziness and four students reported nosebleeds. In response to the concerns, the district commissioned an outside company to test the classroom environment. The subsequent report indicated high temperatures, elevated humidity, and low levels of certain pollutants, including carbon monoxide.

However, these findings have not alleviated parental anxiety. "They’re just keeping us in the dark," said Ricky Marengo, whose daughter has experienced headaches. He expressed dissatisfaction with the district's disclosure of the test results, stating they were only provided after parental complaints.

Jakemer also raised questions about the thoroughness of the testing, noting that the report recommended further mold sampling and that boxes and paper materials were not moved during the inspection. "This issue is not resolved," she asserted.

Despite these ongoing parental concerns, the school district indicated that some students temporarily removed from the classroom were slated to return on Monday. In a statement, the district said, "Given that the report found no indoor source of mold or evidence of water damage, the District does not plan further testing at this time."

This response has prompted some parents to keep their children home from school until more definitive answers are provided. "I want to be able to drop her off and know she’s safe," said parent Sofiya Tormo regarding her daughter.