Some Cortland Elementary parents are still concerned about the air quality of the school. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit after dozens were sickened by a landfill odor in January. In September, Waste Management agreed to pay costs associated with the incident.
"In my eyes, nothing has changed, except maybe greater risk that there is more garbage coming in and that there is more construction going on over at the dump," mother Katie Bryant said.
She is now homeschooling her two children who previously attended Cortland Elementary.
"We've discovered this year that homeschooling really fits our family. It was kind of a blessing in disguise for us," Bryant said.
Bryant says she plans to enroll her children back into the district in high school.
District 428 Superintendent Doug Moeller says he is confident students are safe at the school.
"Smelling something is one thing, but something being dangerous to students? Generally the first thing we do is we look and see if there was any measurable (like one parts per billion) in the atmosphere. Today we have had no positive readings whatsoever," Moeller said.
Moeller says Waste Management is not the only source of smell. The school is located near a sewage treatment facility and a hog farm. He says those also contribute to unpleasant odors from time to time.
"I don't think we are going to ever completely close the book on it. But I do think a lot of good came out of it. Both Waste Management and the school district improved our protocols and how to handle this situation if it happens again. Not only in Cortland, but all of our other schools," Moeller said.
Moeller says Waste Management now has a school calendar, so it can work around school days to avoid uncovering unpleasant smells during school hours.
"DeKalb County Landfill is satisfied with the settlement, as it is consistent with our original commitment to the Cortland School and the community," said Lisa Disbrow, spokesperson, DeKalb County Landfill.
-The school district will receive $6,000 to cover costs of an air monitoring system.
-The DeKalb Fire Department will receive $3,333, Sycamore Fire Department will receive $3,333, and Cortland Fire Department will receive $3,334 for emergency response equipment.
The school also has a live streamon its website of air quality conditions.
