LQMS teachers, students ask city council to intercede with DSUSD

One by one they stood before La Quinta’s City Council Tuesday night, sharing their stories or stories of loved ones who attended or worked at La Quinta Middle School and developed cancer.

“I went to La Quinta Middle School in ’97, ’98, ’99 and in 2005 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer,” said one former student, who asked not to be named.

“My favorite teacher, Mr. Sarver, passed away suddenly and of a very aggressive form of cancer,” said Marlene Ortiz, who also spoke on behalf of two of her best friends who developed cancer after attending LQMS.

“It is a hard time when you see your child laying down at a young age incapable of doing anything,” said Guadalupe Arredondo, whose daughter was diagnosed with a tumor in her adrenal gland at just 18 years old.

Those who spoke represent a growing number of cases since the investigation of a cancer cluster began in 2004.

“We have 45 to 50 that we know have been affected and those are just the ones who have come forward,” said Ellen Marks, director of the California Brain Tumor Association, who is one of the people organizing the former teachers and students.

The group is led by Marks and Robert Sylk, chairman of the board for the Concerned Citizens of La Quinta. They say their recent attempts to meet with Desert Sands Unified School District superintendent Dr. Gary Rutherford were denied.

They hope the city council will step in and encourage the district to take action.

“All they have to do is let the school be measured but as of now they won’t,” Sylk said in his speech to the council. The measurements he’s referring to are levels of dirty electricity, which in physician-epidemiologist Dr. Sam Milham said were off the charts in certain classrooms at La Quinta Middle School.

“If they are transparent and there’s nothing to hide then why make this feel there’s a cover up?” Sylk said.

The city council announced it has a meeting with the district in a few weeks and will address the issue with school officials.

“While we have no jurisdiction over what the schools do, it is in our city limits and I have no problem reaching out as a council to question the process and or encourage further review,” said Mayor Linda Evans after hearing the members of the affected group speak.

If you or someone you know attended or was employed at La Quinta Middle School, contact Ellen Marks and Robert Sylk at cabta@ellenkmarks.com.