Dozens of Malibu High Parents Say Their Kids Suffer Migraines

Dozens of parents raised their hands Tuesday during a public forum at Malibu High when asked if their child reported having migraines after being at school.

The informal poll was taken during public comment at a standing-room only hearing called in response to an investigation into potential health risks on campus. Earlier this month, several teachers came forward to say that they have thyroid cancer, migraines, asthma and rashes. 

During the hearing, a parent asked why children were not been informed of potential health risks.

"My kids are terrified and I think you need to have a communications plan for the children,'' said Beth Lucas, mother of sixth- and ninth-graders.

She said numerous kids were pulled from class today, and her son was stressed and suffered from a headache.

 She turned around to the standing-room-only crowd and asked, "How many of your kids are having migraines?'' Dozens of hands went up.

"Nobody knew that there were carcinogens on campus, and that has been a source of great frustration,'' ninth-grader Tyler Barlow said.

Santa Monica-Malibu Superintendent Sandra Lyon, who hosted the meeting, replied that environmental studies had been discussed at board meetings.

But she added, "We could have done better.''

Another parent, Cassandra Wiseman, said she found out about the health issue on Facebook.

"It's ridiculous for us to get news like that,'' Wiseman said, adding that her child has been suffering from migraines and skin rashes.

Jason Daniels, a ninth-grader, said that contaminated soil "was found several years ago, but I only found out about this on Sunday and I've been playing soccer and rolling around in that grass for three years.''

Lyon said Los Angeles County officials would conduct a voluntary survey of school employees' health, and mold testing would be completed at the campus by Friday -- and the results will be made public.

Read more about the hearing here. 

-City News Service contributed to this report.

Does your Malibu High School and Middle School child suffer from migraines? Tell us in the comments.