Concerns over asbestos contamination at P.S. 176 public school in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn continue to grow. Reports from News 12 Brooklyn and Brooklyn Paper on July 17th highlighted that several parents expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency during the school’s construction, questioning whether the school administration deliberately concealed potential health risks.
According to News 12, parent Andres Juarez pointed out that the school has been under construction for years, forcing children to attend classes in classrooms with windows sealed off by wooden boards. When he inquired with the principal, it was admitted that not only windows were affected, but asbestos disturbances or potential exposure were also found in common areas such as the kitchen, cafeteria, and auditorium. However, Principal Carlson allegedly instructed him not to disclose this information publicly and even suspended his access to the school’s communication platform, preventing him from contacting other parents.
Tensions rose at a parent meeting in May when Principal Carlson clashed with parents. Following the meeting, the school and the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) reiterated that there was no asbestos exposure in the building, only “repair and removal work” on the old structure. Nevertheless, some parents still questioned the lack of transparency and demanded more concrete evidence.
“We need evidence and documentation, not just verbal assurances,” emphasized parent Daisy Chen.
Council Member Wenyi Zhuang and State Assembly Member Yongjia Zheng have intervened in the matter, urging the Department of Education to conduct air quality tests in all areas of the school building and to publicly release the test results before the start of the fall semester. Zhuang stated, “We need to see a comprehensive report – even if it’s 200 or 300 pages long, it must have detailed explanations so parents understand what exactly happened.” Zheng questioned, “This makes people suspect if they are hiding something.”
In response to the outcry, the New York City Department of Education emphasized in a statement that the health and safety of students and faculty are a top priority. Following a thorough inspection, the school will open on schedule in September.
The controversy surrounding this issue is linked to asbestos. In April of this year, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released a report indicating that from 2021 to 2024, 82% of schools in the city known to contain asbestos had not undergone routine inspections. The Department of Education has allegedly failed to fully implement inspection requirements since 1997, potentially violating the minimum federal standards for asbestos management.