Ascent’s doors are now open…but not the permanent ones
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Ascent Classical Academy opened its doors on September 5th, but not the permanent ones; classes are held in modulars placed roughly 50 yards from the school, but still on the property.
To recap, we’ve followed up on serious concerns over the past few weeks of lead poisoning in the building intended to house Ascent Classical, formerly known as Rocky Mountain Gun Club.
Anne Landman, a local independent investigative journalist and concerned citizen has been digging deeper into this story.
In my last report, testing results from Vertex, the company Ascent contracted, showed several samples scoring above the 10 micrograms per square foot limit Vertex and Housing and Urban Development deem to be safe.
Vertex used wipe-sampling and visual inspection for testing methods, with the warning that the wipe test was done in several locations but could not guarantee the safety of the entire building.
Since then, here’s what’s new.
Anne Landman posted her own follow-up story on her blog – citing a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment employee.
That employee told Landman Vertex and Ascent conducted a test only acceptable for lead-based paint, not lead dust.
Caren Johannes of CDPHE told Landman, “‘Bulk samples’ have to be tested. This means actual samples must physically be taken from the building’s walls and tested for lead content.”
I reached out to CDPHE and talked again to Gabi Johnston, CDPHE’s media relations manager for toxicology and the contact I’ve spoken to through the whole process, to ask about this possible testing mishap.
In this email, Johnston responds saying, “the individual who answered the call did not have any background information about the issue at the school and was not aware of the history of testing at the site. The information she provided would only apply to facilities that fall under hazardous waste remediation. The school does not.”
Johnston tells me in a later email, “the school’s contractor conducted initial testing – and core sampling – to determine the most appropriate remediation path.”
Yet the Vertex report Ascent posts on their website refers only to a wipe-sampling and visual inspection.
Johnston tells me, “The CPDHE is providing technical assistance with this issue. Mesa County Public Health is leading the remediation.”
In their latest email, Mesa County Public Health PIO Allison Howe confirmed, “the permanent building has not been approved for child occupancy.”
The school is legally fine to teach their classes in the modulars, but they do need an official certificate of occupancy for anyone to be in the building.
Howe says in the same email, “the certificate of occupancy will be issued through the Mesa County Building Department.”
I reached out to Mesa County Building Department and have yet to hear back.
With no certificate of occupancy issued, or expected anytime soon the remediation process through CDPHE and MCPH will continue.
Ascent school officials finally took down the Rocky Mountain Gun Club sign and added more modular buildings than the last time we documented the situation. The county and state approved a variance for Ascent to teach classes from the modulars.
Ascent’s chief communications officer Amy Willis responded to me via email about my interview requests saying, “our first priority is to provide an excellent experience to the students and their families, so this week may not be possible. I will let you know if we can offer an interview in the near future.”
I’ll let you know if any new information comes to light.
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