A school board in southeastern Louisiana has made the decision to close a predominantly Black elementary school situated close to a petrochemical plant that is facing numerous lawsuits regarding its harmful emissions.
Denka Performance Elastomer LLC operates the facility, which produces synthetic rubber neoprene found in products such as wetsuits and laptop sleeves. The plant has been identified as emitting chloroprene, a probable carcinogen, at levels that significantly endanger the health of the local Black community, as stated in a federal complaint filed in 2023 on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA cautioned that the students attending 5th Ward Elementary, located just a quarter-mile from the Denka facility, are subject to increased cancer risks due to the exposure. Long-term air monitoring has indicated that chloroprene concentrations in the vicinity are up to 15 times higher than the recommended levels for lifetime exposure, contributing to the highest estimated cancer risk in the nation for nearby residents, according to the federal complaint.
In response to these environmental justice concerns, the Biden administration has allocated significant funding to the EPA to address pollution issues affecting minority communities, with Denka being a key focus in its efforts to tackle industrial pollution. This area, known as the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor, has become a focal point for environmental groups who refer to it as “Cancer Alley” due to the high concentration of industrial facilities and the resulting health risks.
Denka’s parent company, based in Tokyo, is currently contesting an EPA directive that demands a significant reduction in chloroprene emissions. The company has received support from Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry, and the matter is still pending in federal court. A spokesperson for Denka argues that the facility has already made considerable reductions in chloroprene emissions, claiming the EPA’s assessments rely on flawed science. Monitoring data from June revealed that emissions were still four times above the EPA’s threshold, although Denka maintains that such figures stem from an overly cautious risk evaluation.
In June, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a motion urging the school board to shut down the elementary school, highlighting the evident health hazards posed to students by Denka. The St. John the Baptist Parish school board is under longstanding desegregation orders, and the Legal Defense Fund contends that the board is in violation by exposing Black children to hazardous conditions when alternative school options exist that are more accessible and beyond the toxic influence of Denka.
Alvarez Hertzock III, the Director of Risk Management for the school district, emphasized the seriousness with which the board is treating the concerns raised in the lawsuit. During public hearings earlier this year, many parents and teachers expressed their anguish over potentially dismantling the tight-knit community at 5th Ward Elementary.
“The thought of tearing us apart breaks my heart,” said Principal Rajean Butler, who has a child at the school, during one such meeting. Butler passionately advocated for the student body, describing the school as a haven where every child is cherished like her own.
Recently, the school board voted 7 to 4 to proceed with the closure, set for the 2025-2026 school year, with students being reassigned to other nearby schools. President Shawn Wallace attributed this decision primarily to financial difficulties stemming from low enrollment across the district.
However, board member Nia Mitchell-Williams remarked that the ongoing desegregation lawsuit influenced the push to close the school, indicating a desire to act before a federal ruling could impose further requirements. Raydel Morris, another board member representing the local community, voiced his opposition to the closure, fearing it might lead to another vacant building in a predominantly Black area.
Morris argued that moving students to East St. John Preparatory, which sits less than a mile from Denka, would continue to subject them to the same hazardous emissions. “We are moving them from the front door to the backyard,” he said.
Victor Jones, an attorney with the Legal Defense Fund, criticized the school board for delaying action, insisting that students should be removed from the hazardous conditions at 5th Ward Elementary immediately, rather than waiting for the upcoming school year. “Every day the school remains open puts those children at risk,” he asserted.
Jones further emphasized that relocating students to a school near Denka would not eliminate their exposure to toxic emissions. On the other hand, Cleo Perry, the district superintendent, expressed a lack of concern regarding the health implications for students being transferred to East St. John Preparatory. He stated that the current focus is on ensuring a smooth transition for the students and families affected by the closure.
“The process of merging schools is emotional and challenging for families and educators,” Perry noted, adding that the district aims to work collaboratively with the community to facilitate an efficient transfer.
