Eyewitnesses

“I painted my own classroom years ago because the paint was literally

peeling off the walls,” she said. “If I hadn’t been moved to a new

portable I would have found a way to put air-conditioning in because it

was absolutely stifling in there. When it’s 80 degrees outside it’s even

hotter in those rooms. I have children in this district and I teach in

this district -- I don’t want my children trying to learn in a sweatbox.”

Cynthia Blackwell, a teacher at California Elementary for six years

“Our conditions are bad -- the roofing is the worst ... We have a lot

of doors that have rusted and I’ve seen a lot of termites here in

classrooms and at Newport Harbor when I worked there.”

Quang Nguyen, head custodian at TeWinkle Middle school who has been in

the district for 11 years

“The toilet’s always flooded and there’s holes all in the wall over

there.”

Nelson Leon, a sixth-grade student at TeWinkle Middle School

“The ceiling is falling down. We’re afraid to stand under it.”

Timothy Calaretta sixth-grade student at TeWinkle Middle school

“When the door closes the building moves. When you slam the door the

ceiling tiles come ajar.”

Jill Martin, Timothy’s teacher, explains why he’s afraid

“The plumbing horrible-- things back up frequently.”

Bill Riddell, gym teacher at TeWinkle Middle School

“There’s a big hole in the ceiling of the girls locker room where they

just did a Band-Aid job. They just stuck particle board up and there’s

still holes around it.” Judy Gibson, girls gym teacher at TeWinkle

Middle School

“We had a hole -- a big gapping hole in the ceiling for a while,

probably a year and a half. We just brought a big plastic barrel in. It

fell down during class time and kids wondered if more of the roof would

fall down.”

Charlene Hommerding, special needs teacher at TeWinkle Middle School

“My roof leaked and the rug molded and it’s never been replaced. It

was like a waterfall down the wall. Or how about the year my lights

exploded. Green neon gas came out and with aall the training my students

had -- they ran to the back of the room and screamed.”

Laura Holmes, a second-grade teacher at Newport Heights Elementary

School

“We had termites in the door frame at Killybrooke.”

Helen Swan, a third grade teacher at Newport Heights Elementary School

“When I was at Paularino we had heaters built in the walls and this

black stuff would fly out -- it was body parts of insects.”

Brooke Booth, the principal at Newport Heights Elementary

“Girls are afraid to go to the bathroom because it’s so filthy and old

-- it’s outdated.” Cherrie Civington, a first-grade teacher at Newport

Heights Elementary School

“When you flush the toilets sometimes they overflow.” Brent

Wattson, a fifth-grader at Newport Heights Elementary School

“About two months ago our locker room flooded with sewage.”

David Sumner, 15, a freshman at Newport Harbor High School

“The No. 1 problem is bathrooms and some of the windows don’t stay

open or don’t close.”

Curt Cook, 16, a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School

“One classroom is full of mildew and it smells and part of the wall

is crumbling and they tried to patch it.” Garrett Hasbach, a sophomore

at Newport Harbor High School

“There are cockroaches in my Spanish classroom and we can’t eat in

there cause they’ll come out.” Tiffany Manderino, 14, a freshman at

Newport Harbor High School

“Last week I had a big rat the size of a Chihuahua in my room. I’ve

got exposed holes in my [ceiling] and I’ve got rat droppings all over my

room.” Robin Sinclair, the college and career advisor at Newport

Harbor High School