Some P.S. 156 parents and employees are concerned about possible toxins at a nearby construction site for new schools.

Four new schools are being built on top of a vacant rail yard station in Concourse Village. School officials say lead and benzene were left behind in the soil and worry some of those toxins are now being released into the air. According to one P.S. 156 employee, the School Construction Authority (SCA) promised tent-covered work sites and other safety measures, but claims none of those measures are happening.

Many parents are now requesting a comprehensive clean-up at the site before the schools are built. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says it is aware of the situation and will continue to monitor the cleanup activities at the site.