Inspection Reveals Philadelphia School Buildings Unsanitary, Unsafe
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - City Controller Alan Butkovitz says his inspection finds unsanitary and dangerous conditions inside Philadelphia school buildings.
Butkovitz last inspected school buildings in 2008, and he says not much has improved since. Visits to 20 schools turned up water leaks, missing fire extinguishers, mold, cockroaches, exposed insulation, uncovered electrical panels, collapsed ceilings and unsanitary bathrooms.
"We've got -- what, 170,000 Philadelphia schoolkids going to school every day in these conditions," he says. "Why isn't that a public health emergency?"
District spokesman Fernando Gallard says the district welcomes the report, to highlight the need for more funding:
"Do we have enough money to maintain our schools? No. Do we have enough money in our capital programs to do the repairs? No."
Gallard says it's likely many of the issues -- including exposed asbestos at Key Elementary -- have already been addressed.
