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Environmental Concerns Heightened in West Oakland Following McClymonds High School Closure

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Destiny Shabazz, 17, works on scholarship applications at McClymonds High School’s College & Career Center. (Lee Romney/KQED)

This week, McClymonds High School students attended classes, but not at their campus. McClymonds abruptly closed last Thursday after district officials found trichlorethylene, or TCE, in groundwater below the school. TCE, a known carcinogen, can vaporize and contaminate the air. While preliminary tests at the school show the air to be safe, community members remain skeptical, highlighting long-standing concerns about environmental justice in West Oakland. Meanwhile, the school’s 350 students have been assigned to nearby schools as lab testing continues. We’ll hear from local officials and community members on this news and we want to hear from you: is your family impacted by the school closure?

Guests:

John Sasaki, director of communications, Oakland Unified School District

Laura Klivans, reporter, KQED News

Lynette Gibson McElhaney, councilmember, Oakland's District 3 representing West Oakland

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