NYC moves youngest students out of contaminated PS 372 basement amid health concerns

Following months of parental outcry and investigative reporting, New York’s District 75 will temporarily relocate pre-K and kindergarten students from the basement annex of PS 372 to other parts of the school while state agencies install upgraded ventilation systems to address toxic air. Dr. Keisha McCoy confirmed the move in a letter to families, acknowledging that the basement has been used for classes for the past two and a half years despite ongoing vapor-intrusion mitigation that began in 2024.

Experts, including Walter Hang of the Environmental Health Research Group, argue the relocation admits a long-standing failure to protect children. The school’s air contains carcinogens such as benzene and xylene, prompting a petition led by Michelle Tsai and Julia Finegan that now exceeds 850 signatures and calls for Governor Kathy Hochul’s resignation. Parents also criticized principal Rosa Amato for inadequate communication during earlier town-hall meetings. The state-installed filtration units have been described as “band-aids” that do not solve the broader soil and air contamination surrounding the Gowanus Canal.