More questions were raised than answered at last night's City School District meeting regarding a potentially dangerous Brownfield site.

State representatives from the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation gave parents, some School Board members, and community leaders a lengthy presentation on what their research has uncovered regarding 690 St. Paul Street.

But the presentation quickly dissolved into testy exchanges between concerned parents and a representative of the site's owner - Genesee Valley Real Estate Co.

Tests revealed low levels of trichloroethylene, or TCE, in air and some soil samples as deep as bedrock.TCE is a solvent that is still used in paint, ink, adhesives, and in grease removal solutions. It is known to cause brain damage in humans after prolonged, high-level exposures.

Representatives from the DEC and DOH tried to assure parents and board members that, despite the presence of TCE, the site is safe for occupancy. The site has already been used as a charter school and School No. 14 is scheduled to move into the building in the fall.

Parents wanted to know if the building's owner knew that the site was contaminated prior to entering into a long-term lease with the Rochester City School District. And was the problem disclosed to board members?

The answer to that could put some board members on the hot seat.

Cynthia Elliott seems to remember something about it, but isn't sure; and fellow board member Willa Powell said the board knew that petroleum tanks were being removed from the site in 2008.

Several parents even challenged the efficacy of the state's guidelines regarding acceptable levels of TCE - pointing out that New York historically has been slow to respond to known health hazards like lead-based paint. Some states have been much more aggressive than New York in their health guidelines for TCE levels, some parents said.

Board President Malik Evans acknowledged that the presentation leaves the board with some difficult decisions.

At the very least, it will mean scrambling to find a new location for School No 14 by September. And judging by the way different sides were squaring off last night, a legal fight could be looming, too.