( CNN ) -- A school system in upstate New York , where more than a dozen female high school students are suffering from uncontrolled verbal outbursts and twitching , said it has hired a company to review environmental testing within the school and community . The development comes as famed activist Erin Brockovich and other environmentalists are looking into whether a chemical that spilled in a 1970 train derailment about four miles from the school has anything to do with the girls ' mysterious behavior . One of Brockovich 's associates walked the grounds of Le Roy Senior High School on Saturday and traveled to the derailment site . The Le Roy Central School District said it wanted `` sound advice '' from professionals on the situation , `` void of self-interest . '' `` Our community has suddenly found itself at the center of national attention due to the students who have been exhibiting neurological symptoms , '' Superintendent Kim M. Cox said in a statement released Friday . `` This has led to much speculation , conjecture and misinformation in the national media and consequently within our community . '' Cox said the school district is working with local , state and federal health and environmental agencies . A statement posted earlier on the school 's website said , in part , `` The medical and environmental investigations have not uncovered any evidence that would link the neurological symptoms to anything in the environment or of an infectious nature . '' The school district posted air quality and mold reports on its website . `` Water was also ruled out because the school is serviced by public water , '' it said . The mother of one affected girl said she does n't think enough testing has been done . Health officials say the girls ' symptoms are consistent with `` conversion disorder . '' Brockovich told HLN 's `` Dr. Drew '' on Friday night that she will try to corroborate a note she said one of the affected family members received about the derailment . `` The contaminated rock , fill and soil was used to build the new school , '' Brockovich said of the note . According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , one ton of cyanide crystals spilled onto the ground in the December 6 , 1970 , derailment . About 30,000 gallons of trichloroethene ( TCE ) , a potentially harmful contaminant , also were released from two ruptured tank cars , the agency said . `` I have read and been involved in cases that we have had that TCE can be associated with neurological disorders , '' Brockovich told HLN . The first significant cleanup and remediation did not start for 20 years , she said , adding she was worried about the chemical getting into bedrock and groundwater supplies . The TCE may have reached the school grounds , she said . The EPA 's Superfund website provides a progress report of the cleanup done in the area over the past 20 years . `` Drinking wells in the area were found to have TCE contamination , '' the EPA said . `` Sampling of private wells between 1990 and 1994 detected TCE in approximately 50 wells located east or southeast of the site . '' The EPA installed water-treatment systems at 37 locations where TCE levels were high . The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation used soil vapor extraction and bedrock vapor extraction to address the source of the contamination . `` A water-line extension was selected to provide a safe , potable water supply to all affected residents and businesses , '' the EPA said . Robert Bowcock , an environmental water specialist associated with Brockovich , went to the derailment site Saturday and took water samples to test for contaminants . He also took water samples from wells at private residences . An HLN producer saw several dozen drums in a fenced-off area at the derailment site , but it was not clear what they may contain . One was rusted and had dirt-like material inside . Brockovich gained fame after the 2000 movie bearing her name and starring Julia Roberts in the title role . It told the story of how she , as a file clerk at a law firm , established that a toxic chemical from a compressor station leaked into the groundwater of a nearby California town , according to a biography posted on Brockovich 's website . Medical experts , meanwhile , continue to investigate the girls ' symptoms , which in some cases , include stuttering . Dr. Jennifer McVige , a pediatric neurologist at the DENT Neurologic Institute who is treating many of the students affected , said , `` Conversion disorder is a physical manifestation of physiological symptoms where there is traditionally some kind of stress or multiple stressors that provoke a physical reaction within the body . '' McVige said the symptoms are real . `` This is unconscious . It is not done purposefully . '' Thera Sanchez , a senior on the honor roll at the school , said she has been fighting this affliction since October . She said after waking up from a nap , `` I got upset , I could n't stop stuttering . '' During an interview with CNN 's Jason Carroll , Thera 's symptoms were apparent : She was twitching uncontrollably , flailing her left arm and jerking her head to one side . Thera said she also faints and has seizures . The seizures are a result of her pre-existing epilepsy disorder , which had been under control for years . `` I do n't think that all physical aspects of this have been exhausted ; not enough testing has been done , '' Thera 's mother , Melissa Phillips , said . She also disagreed with McVige 's assertion that the girls are improving , saying , `` Nothing is getting better , you know , the girls are still getting worse . They have good days and bad days . '' McVige is not sure why so many girls at the same school are suffering all at once . `` I do know that traditionally when they 've ( doctors ) looked back at different events that occurred in a similar nature , a majority of the time it is girls . '' According to the Mayo Clinic , females are much more likely to get conversion disorder and it is more common in adolescents or young adults . McVige said she used the `` diagnosis of exclusion '' to determine what happened to the girls , which means using the process of elimination . She ruled out a laundry list of factors to reach her diagnosis , including infections , drug use , food allergies and vaccine reactions , specifically Gardasil . The New York State Health Department agreed with McVige 's diagnosis after speaking with several doctors who evaluated the students . `` There are many causes of tic-like symptoms . Stress can often worsen them , '' said spokesman Jeffrey Hammond . `` The doctors all agree that the symptoms these girls are experiencing are real . '' HLN 's Liz Flynn reported from Le Roy , New York . CNN 's Danielle Dellorto , Laura Dolan , Maggie Schneider and Jason Carroll also contributed to this report .
School will review environmental tests in the area . Activist Erin Brockovich is looking into a 1970 train derailment . `` Conversion disorder '' causes twitching , stuttering , verbal outbursts . Mayo Clinic says young females are much more likely to get conversion disorder .