KANSAS CITY, Mo. — State and local health officials are getting federal help amid concerns after six teachers at a Liberty school have been diagnosed with breast cancer since 2020.

Officials with the nation’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention are now engaged with the effort to determine if something at Warren Hills Elementary is making people sick. A spokesperson with the federal agency confirmed the involvement Wednesday in an email to The Star, marking one of the latest developments in the situation at the school.

“CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are aware of the concerns related to reported cancer diagnoses among several staff at Warren Hills Elementary School,” the agency’s communications office said.

“ATSDR’s Regional Office and CDC/ATSDR cancer cluster experts are engaging with the state health department to learn more about the situation and explore ways we can support the state and local health departments as they work to address cancer concerns.”

Overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR is the only federal health agency that works directly with concerned citizens to address environmental hazards and respond to requests for assistance from communities across the nation, according to its website.

That agency has been communicating with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in order to gather information on Warren Hills and determine how “they can best contribute,” said DHSS spokeswoman Sami Jo Freeman in an email.

“The goal of their participation is to explore ways they can support DHSS and the local health department,” Freeman said.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves — who represents northern Missouri, including Liberty — sought federal assistance for the situation at the school. In a letter last month to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Graves asked for his help in “uncovering the root causes” of the “concerning” number of cancer cases.

In addition to the six teachers, another at the school was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. And at least three other staff members have had other types of cancer, including throat and cervical.

Graves said he’s “pleased” that the CDC is engaging with state health officials about concerns at Warren Hills.

“Since my initial request that they look into the matter, the CDC has been incredibly helpful in providing options and assistance,” Graves said in an email, “so we can get answers for everyone who has been affected.”

The Star has reported about the situation and diagnoses since early March. Several parents, concerned about potential health risks at the school, sought transfers from Warren Hills, but those were denied. And multiple teachers are not returning to the elementary school after summer break.

A small group of teachers began asking questions in the fall of 2022, leading the district to ask the Clay County Public Health Center to initiate a study which found that breast cancer diagnoses at the school were in line with county and state figures.

District officials have said on numerous occasions that the school and its campus are safe for students, teachers and staff. Further testing on soil, water and air quality has been conducted and results are expected this summer.

Later this month, on June 25, the Missouri Cancer Inquiry Committee will meet to formally review data provided to the members from Clay County health officials. In the end, the committee will determine whether to initiate a cancer inquiry investigation.

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