Superintendent revisits school’s septic issues
Resident reviews video of problematic pipe, sees jagged edges in welding
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE — A resident lauded the school district this week for keeping the elementary school clean.

Gary Mangino, of Beechwood Lane, has two children in Millstone Township Elementary School. When he heard the school had problems with piping, causing sewage to back up into area such as the kitchen, Mangino said he wanted answers from the Board of Education.

Superintendent William Setaro said when some residents accused the board of covering up a bigger problem at the school this month, he offered to show anyone who wanted to visit the school a videotape and documentation that proved the school had the issue under control.

“When the opportunity presented itself, I took it,” Mangino said. “I just wanted to see what preventative actions the school was taking. I also wanted the opportunity to get further answers to my questions.”

Ken Sabosik, the school district’s head custodian since July 2003, filed a complaint with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Feb. 14 stating Millstone Township Elementary School has had sewer line problems for about a year, which caused sewage to back up into areas of the school.

The DEP complaint reads, “Possible water contamination from a sewer line, broken for over a year. The line was never fixed and the school is on its own well.”

Setaro said the line having problems exists under the E-wing, at the back of the school.

“We checked the line having the problem and discussed a temporary solution,” Setaro said.

While he visited the school, Mangino said he was pleased to find out that the school had a water jet to clean the line.

“The school will use a jet cleaner, a high pressure water based device that will clear the lines once a week,” Mangino said.

Setaro said the board purchased the water jet about a year ago, when they first started experiencing sewage back ups in the school.

In the summer, Setaro said the board hired a company to come in and put a camera in the problematic line to see why the blockage was reoccurring.

Upon seeing the videotape of what the camera recorded in the pipe, Mangino said, “The pipe is not broken. Paper and other products are getting caught on a jagged lip.”

Mangino said the videotape reveals that the contractors who laid the piping, used a melted lead mixture to adhere parts of piping together.

“When the lead mixture cools, it creates a sealant, but in this case it seems those who put the pipe in used too much or not the right preparation,” Mangino said. “There are jagged edges inside the pipe that collect waste.”

Sabosik said the damaged pipe caused the sewer to back up into one of the ladies’ rooms during a wrestling meet.

Whenever sewage backs up, Sabosik said, he and his coworkers would have to clean the area using bleach and water.

Sabosik said he reported the matter to the DEP to ensure the safety of the school environment.

Setaro said after Sabosik filed the complaint, representatives from the DEP and the Monmouth County Board of Health visited the school.

“They examined everything and have reported that everything is clean,” Setaro said.

Setaro said Sabosik should have used the internal chain of command to report the issue before going to the DEP.

“We have an internal process,” Setaro said. “If he didn’t think his supervisor was listening, he could have gone to another supervisor.”

Sabosik’s contract will come before the board for renewal in July.

Mangino said he could see why Sabosik reported the matter to the DEP.

“Without seeing the videotape, I would be wondering if there was a broken pipe causing groundwater contamination too,” Mangino said.

Setaro said the board anticipates fixing the jagged edge in the pipe during the summer.

“We’re going to have a company with an auger come in to file down the edges,” Setaro said.

Mangino, who owns a building consultant company, explained that an auger is like a rotor rooter machine.

“It will be placed down into the pipe and will use a moving blade to file down the rough edges of the pipe,” Mangino said.

Setaro said the board was happy to find that they wouldn’t have to jackhammer through the school floor and the poured concrete to fix the problem.

“We’re going to look for a local professional to fix the problem,” Setaro said. “We have funding in our operational budget for these kinds of emergencies.”

Setaro said he would like to have another scope of the line performed after the pipe gets smoothed over.

Mangino said, “I applaud the school. I think I understand the problem, have a good feeling about the solution to the problem, and feel satisfied with the preventative measures the school is taking in the meantime.”