EXCLUSIVE: Louisiana School Rampant With Oil Residue Still Open After Massive Plant Explosion
We obtained photos showing oil residue all around nearby school. "You are putting each person that steps foot on that property at risk for severe health problems," students' mom wrote superintendent.
Two weeks after a massive oil plant explosion rained a toxic shower of oil residue, soot, ash, and other unknown chemicals over Roseland, Louisiana and nearby communities, Status Coup has exclusively obtained photos showing Roseland Montessori school—a little over a mile from the Smitty’s Supply explosion—remains open despite oil residue rampant across the school on windows, AC units, fences, street signs, the school roof and parking lot, and other hot spots. We also obtained photos showing students with oil residue on their shoes—likely tracking potentially toxic chemicals back and forth inside and outside the school.
There are over 400 students currently enrolled. Status Coup has spoken with Roseland residents who’ve shared that people in the community have already experienced nosebleeds, breathing problems, nausea, and burning skin in the aftermath of the explosion.
After the explosion on August 22nd, the school—which is 1.3 miles away from Smitty’s Supply—was closed for just one day before re-opening on August 26th and opening for students on August 28th.
“Yesterday was their first day back back since the explosion at Smitty’s and the scene is horrific,” Jessica Parker, a mother of two students at the school, emailed Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Melissa Stilley on September 1st. Parker recounted to Status Coup that when she dropped off her kids on the first day of school, she complained to a staff member that the smell in the parkingklot was “terrible.” In response, the staff member complained they felt nauseous, Parker shared.
See exclusive photos we obtained of oil residue sprayed across the school grounds where hundreds of students are still in school (as of today students are allowed to go outside to play on the school playground).
In Parker’s email to the school superintendent , which Status Coup obtained, Parker continued to raise alarm bells over the oil residue that is all over the school—and warn that school officials are irresponsibly endangering the health of young students.
“There is black residue on everything…every person going into that school is tracking that black residue inside. My son spends probably 70% of his time at the school on the floor and the way he sits his shoes are always touching his skin. Also he is non verbal and cannon tell me if he is not feeling well. We are all already sick with something. I do not believe this black residue is free from harmful, toxic substances. I do not understand how the school is even back open. They say they have bottled water for the cafeteria and restrooms to function. Until the school has been cleaned a certified hazmat team, all material have been tested and cleared of any harmful, toxic substances and the air conditioning and heating equipments have been replaced no one should be at the school…you are putting each person that steps foot on that property at risk for severe health problems”
In a response email, obtained by Status Coup, Superintendent Stilley told Parker she can transfer her sons, one of whom has Down syndrome and the other who is nonverbal, to another school.
“Roseland Montessori has been properly cleaned and cleared by the EPA to have children there. It is without a doubt the cleanest, safest school in the parish,” Stilley wrote Parker.
Parker has since pulled both of her sons out of Roseland Montessori.
“My youngest is also nonverbal,” Parker told Status Coup. “Another reason why I pulled them out of the school because he cannot tell me if he does not feel good and he already has respiratory sensitivity skin sensitivities. I’m sick about it this morning because now he can’t start at a new school because they’re not equipped with a child specific for him and then I drop my oldest off this morning only to see mold all in the ceiling tiles at the new school
Based on the photos Status Coup has obtained revealing oil residue sprayed across the school grounds, Superintendent Stilley’s proclamation that the school has been properly cleaned is beyond premature. As she declared this, state officials are still awaiting a new round of testing from the EPA, and children can be particularly vulnerable to toxic substances found in soot. It’s also unclear if the EPA is testing solid soot and ash for chemicals—which is necessary to thoroughly look for the full gamut of potentially harmful chemical contaminants.
Superintendent Stilley did not respond to Status Coup’s questions or request for comment. Status Coup also reached out to the EPA to ask on what basis the federal agency has given the all-clear for the school close to the plant explosion to remain open. We have not yet heard back.
Independent chemical tester Scott Smith, who traveled to Roseland to conduct preliminary chemical testing soon after the explosion, told Status Coup he did observe soot on properties near Smitty’s Supply and near Roseland Montessori school.
“I saw soot and ash everywhere,” Smith told us. Below are alarming photos of contamination he found while on-the-ground in Roseland, including soot, ash—and dead frogs.
He plans to head down to Roseland for further testing in the coming days.
Smith, who has conducted over 30 chemical testing trips to East Palestine, Ohio following the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical detonation—and found toxic levels of dioxins, vinyl chloride, among other harmful toxins—expressed his dismay over schools remaining open despite the lack of thorough chemical testing being done.
“Based on my experience in 80 contamination events, an abundance of caution should be taken especially with children when it comes to large deposits of soot and/or ash from fires. Sending children back to school without knowing the complete compositions of the soot and/or ash can pose health risks to children according to toxicologists.”
Smith will be holding a town hall with residents in Roseland on September 9th.
Status Coup will continue to investigate what appears to be yet another chemical cover-up—and corporate sacrifice zone—on a growing list across America.
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