When do you return to the Leo Buck high school building in Haifa? Depends on who you ask

(Live here with the asbestos in Leo Buck) - Parents of students at Leo Buck High School who submitted a petition to the court regarding the reoccupation of the Leo Buck High School building, after the asbestos removal work that was carried out there, today (Tuesday 17/1/23) informed all school parents that the building will not be occupied until the 15 /3/23.

According to the parents, this date was set in agreement with the municipality. Today the high school students study in the Loki building, which is located next to the high school building and was closed during the asbestos removal work.

Notice of the petitioners to all parents: "For the past few weeks, talks have been held between the lawyers representing the parents and the attorney's office and the municipality of Haifa. At the moment, a hearing on the petition has been scheduled for the month of March. As part of the talks, it was agreed that the high school building will not be occupied without inspections after the renovation as originally planned, and that inspector Yoram Verga will supervise the inspections. The inspection plan has not been agreed upon Right now."

The Hayit Sifri parents committee responded to the announcement and claimed that since the school has about 1,100 families and only 9 people submitted the petition and signed it, hence the parents who submitted the petition, according to the committee, do not represent the school's parents at all.

"The committee takes an active part in everything related to renovations, cleanings and inspections from the beginning of its work. This is done in a respectful dialogue with all concerned. Each step is done with consideration and cooperation. Presenting things as if they are a product of the petition is incorrect and misleading," claimed the parents' committee.

The chairman of the parents' committee, Tirza Yoels, added that the committee will inform the parents about the results of the tests and the date of occupancy.

The CEO of Leo Buck, Rabbi Ofek Meir, also sought to clarify the facts. According to him, the information that parents are spreading in the WhatsApp groups regarding the renovation of the school is incorrect. Meir points out that the renovation is at an advanced stage and the chairman of the parents' committee and the representatives of the committee know exactly where things stand . Meir emphasized that at the current stage there is not yet an agreed occupancy date, but when there is one, all the parents will be informed. Moreover, Meir emphasized that the occupation will only take place after the entire process is finished, that is, when the works are fully completed, they will be cleaned and all the tests will be conducted that will indicate that the high school complex allows for occupation.

Meir even rejects the claim that the court has set a certain date until it arrives that it will not be possible to return to the school: "The court did not set anything regarding occupancy. The petitioners requested an interim relief as part of their petition to prohibit occupancy until a decision is made on the petition. The court did not grant such interim relief. The court ruled that there will be one hearing on the petition and the request for interim relief. In the last decision given by the honorable court on January 15.01.2023, 21.03.2023, it was determined that the hearing on the petition (including the request for interim relief, as mentioned) will be held on March XNUMX, XNUMX. In order not to delay the occupancy of the building, after the completion of the works , conducting all the necessary tests in accordance with the recommendations and receiving proper answers, we intend to submit to the honorable court a request to bring forward the date of the hearing."