July 02, 2015
A recent report by the Philadelphia Office of the Controller uncovered a number of risks and dangerous conditions at 20 city schools, Philadelphia Business Journal reports.
Inspections at the schools revealed dangerous building conditions, including fire and electrical hazards, that have yet to be corrected since inspections began nearly seven years ago.
“The School District needs to provide a safe, sanitary learning environment for everyone, including our great teachers who must endure these conditions daily,” City Controller Alan Butkovitz said in a statement.
The most recent review, which occurred between November 2014 and March 2015, revealed 15 of the 20 school buildings reviewed have some type of fire hazard – missing exit signs, hallways blocked with objects or large items in front of fire exit doors, according to the report.
Some of the more oft-putting findings included unsanitary and potentially sickening bathroom conditions at four schools – "toilets that appeared to have waste permanently in them" – and cockroaches milling about in a restroom at Central High School.
In addition, 70 percent of the inspected schools had electrical risks, including exposed wires, and all but one school had water damage.
Read more from Philadelphia Business Journal and see the full report.
