Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Public School 21 was initially closed on Friday, January 9, 2009.

The cause for the closure, not divulged to this reporter upon inquiry Tuesday, January 13, 2009, by Jerilynne Fierstein, Communications Director of the Yonkers Public Schools and

Yonkers Board of Education was an explosion to the boiler. Reports indicate that there was a misfiring of the boiler mechanism that caused the boiler to crack. The explosion was of such intensity that it caused windows to blow out with an accompanying fire. Yonkers Firefighters needed to take precautions after the explosion because there was exposure to asbestos, the last remnant of asbestos on school porperty. Firefighters exposed have quarantined their respective gear andit will be examined for asbestos. If asbestos contamination is ascertained, the YPS will need to give noticeto the Environmental Protection Agency.

Asbestos was mitigated in a cleanup that was conducted in all schools years ago. There is an an asbestos lining in older boilers that could not be removed, other than having the entire boiler replaced. At issue here is why Fierstein would no town up to the explosion. Why she continues to conduct herself in a deceptive manner. Why she has not grasped the concept of transparency swince the days she lied about Superintendent Petrone. She is caught in another lie over this situation. And who knows how many more incidents of importance and those less consequential. How many more incidents of deception and deceit must the City of Yonkers endure by before it is realized she isadetriment to the YPS and the Yonkers BoE? Did she notified parents of the incident? Why not? Why was the media not notified?