The principal of an elementary school located near Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal, which is known to be contaminated, recently told parents that her busy schedule sometimes prevents her from sharing vital information about the hazardous air quality in the school.
During a virtual town hall meeting on Monday, Principal Rosa Amato, who has been leading PS 372 since 2015 and earns over $200,000 a year, made this concerning remark in front of approximately 80 anxious parents and community members who were expressing worries about the air safety at the school’s annex on First Street.
A parent raised a point in the Zoom chat about a delay in sending out letters from the Department of Environmental Conservation, noting that a letter from February didn’t reach parents until more than a week later.
“Yes, one week seems like a long time. But sometimes, I am way too busy and miss things,” Amato responded.
This summer, parents learned that mitigation efforts, which began in 2024, had not succeeded in addressing the contamination issues at the annex, where the pre-K and kindergarten classes are held. While state officials claim that levels of toxic chemicals like benzene and xylene have been reduced to safe levels, many families and experts remain skeptical, demanding the complete removal of the contaminated soil beneath the building.
Dan Tucholski from the Health Department and Aaron Fischer from the Department of Conservation also participated in the meeting and addressed selected questions, but Amato’s comments frustrated parents, who expected better communication.
One parent, who chose to remain anonymous, shared their disappointment, saying, “I was offended by Principal Rosa saying she was too busy to communicate properly. We’ve experienced two years of ineffective mitigation, and it has been RIDICULOUS.”
A group of parents has even started a petition urging Governor Kathy Hochul to resign due to her handling of the situation, stating they feel left in the dark about their children’s health. They noted that updates often arrived during holidays or breaks—times when many families are less likely to check their emails—sometimes weeks after the school had already been informed.
“Amato is a terrible communicator,” remarked a parent of two children entering first and fifth grades.
Another mother, who also requested anonymity, spoke about her own efforts to ensure clean air in classrooms by purchasing high-efficiency filters. “I was trying to get a company to donate them, and Principal Amato didn’t show up to the meeting,” she noted, adding that while she doesn’t mind contributing financially, it should not fall on just one parent without clear guidance from the school or agencies.
Online reviews indicate that Amato has a reputation for dismissing parental concerns, reflecting a broader sentiment among parents. One individual commented on a review platform about seven months ago, highlighting that the principal often deflects difficult conversations rather than addressing them supportively.
At least six parents have indicated they are withdrawing their children from the school, which serves about 450 students, due to worries regarding the air quality, while eight others are contemplating the same decision.
“We love PS 372; it’s a fantastic school, but with no clear timeline for fixing the air quality, it feels impossible to keep our youngest enrolled. If he gets ill from the vapors, how do we explain to him that we ignored our instincts?” questioned Claire Graves, who is taking her kindergartener out of the school.
The DEC and DOH maintain that they are dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of students and staff. They announced plans to enhance ventilation before the upcoming school year begins.
Requests for comment from Amato and the DOE went unanswered.
