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Health & Fitness

Safety Concerns at Highland Park School Playgrounds

An injury with a soccer disk system at District 112 playground causes a parent to ask some questions.

In November of last year at my 10-year-old stepson slid across the grass at recess and cut his leg on a plastic disk used to cover a hole of a soccer goal post.  He received 22 stitches on his knee, had to have his knee immobilized for three weeks and missed playing winter park district basketball.

My wife and I received initial calls of concern from the school nurse (who was wonderful as always) and the principal, Mr. Walker. We were given a form to fill out so school insurance would cover the medical costs. Later in November, having not heard from him, I contacted the individual who oversees grounds for District 112 and shared my concerns. My wife and I made it clear from the get-go that we had no interest in any legal process. We only wanted to ensure that the school district would review the safety issues involved with these numerous white disks in the ground where the children have their recess.

At no time did that individual contact us on his own to follow up on a review of concerns until, after my fourth contact with him (an e-mail with a CC to an assistant superintendant and the principal), did he inform us that he had either called or met with local American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) representatives who assured him that the disks are safe.  Per my request, he sent me literature on the disk system.  He said he'd do another walk through, but, of course, I've not heard from him since that discussion in early May.

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I decided to pursue our concerns further and have spoken to the president of the company that manufactures the disks. Although he assured me that they were safe, he admitted that frost could push the disks above ground and pose a risk.  He said he'd review the maintanance instructions and try to tighten them up so that the discs would be maintained below ground level. I suggested to him that if they did push above ground, which we're sure was the case with my stepson, that a lawnmower could cut or hone the plastic and create enormous risk. I've turned this over to the Consumer Product Safety Commission who have opened a case and will be investigating.

Obviously, my wife and I would've prefered that a school district representative proactively investigate and keep in touch with us. Their lack of action has indicated to us a lack of concern that is mystifying. Personally, this has been compounded for us by our having received no re-imbursement to date for our out-of-pocket medical expenses and no one in the District following up.

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Bottom line: is someone really in charge at our schools?

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