Parents at P.S. 176 The Ovington School in Dyker Heights say months of construction have left them with more questions than answers about asbestos, and they are not cooling down. Families allege debris was hauled away in containers labeled “asbestos” that were placed in the playground and near parent drop off, and they point to at least two students whose respiratory illnesses worsened this year. On June 12, they took their anger to the street in a protest demanding clarity, accountability, and in some cases the principal’s removal, as local elected officials and a law firm stepped in to track the complaints and offer help.
Parents say they watched workers toss debris into a green container clearly marked “asbestos,” and describe dust from the ongoing work settling on the playground and inside classrooms, according to Brooklyn Paper. Organizer Andres Juarez, a former School Leadership Team member, documented conditions in emails and at public meetings, then resigned after accusing school leaders of keeping families in the dark. Parents told reporters those labeled containers were parked right where families drop off kids in the morning, heightening fears for children who spend time outdoors during the school day.
A legal blog post on March 29 summarized the parents’ allegations and reported that at least two students “became seriously ill” one with severe pneumonia who missed about 40 days of school and another whose asthma worsened. The post also described asbestos-labeled containers in both the playground and parent drop-off areas, and laid out the obligations schools and contractors have under federal and state asbestos rules. The writeup, published on Gersowitz Libo & Korek’s Lawyertime blog, included contact information for families looking for legal guidance.
The Department of Education and the School Construction Authority counter that they have done what is required and that the building is safe. In a statement to News 12, the DOE said “The health and safety of our students and staff are always our highest priority,” and added that the SCA carried out “comprehensive inspections” and remediation. Parents, however, say the paperwork and air-quality data they have been shown so far have not been detailed enough to restore trust.
Audit and State Rules
The fight at P.S. 176 is unfolding against a citywide backdrop that does not exactly calm nerves. An audit by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander found the DOE failed to complete most of its federally required asbestos inspections between 2021 and 2024. As outlined by the Comptroller’s office, only a small share of schools received the required triennial or six-month checks during that period. New York State and federal AHERA rules call for triennial reinspections, semiannual surveillance, and easily available asbestos management plans, according to guidance from the state education department.
Legal And Next Steps
Legal advisers say families who believe asbestos work was mishandled can seek records, medical testing, and in some circumstances bring civil claims, though proving exposure generally requires both health documentation and environmental testing. The Gersowitz Libo & Korek writeup outlines potential responsibilities and liabilities for schools and contractors, and urges families to talk to counsel when they feel disclosures are incomplete or when symptoms surface around the time of construction.
In the meantime, parents say their immediate demands are straightforward: independent air-quality testing, full abatement logs, and some kind of public oversight before students are sent back into spaces where work was done. Community members say they will keep pressing the DOE and SCA for clear, independently verifiable proof that the building is safe, and some families are already weighing whether to move their children if they do not get it. School postings list contact information and upcoming events, and Superintendent David Pretto has said officials have held meetings and posted documents for families to review. Advocates, however, argue that only full transparency and outside testing will repair trust after the disputed abatement work.
