TEMPE, Ariz. -- Students and parents rallied outside Tempe's Corona del Sol High School on Tuesday to fight for their health.

Among them was Tempe Councilwoman Barb Carter who taught at Corona del Sol for 25 years. Now she's facing a tough fight.

"I was diagnosed in 2006 with a benign brain tumor and I happen to be the eighth teacher who had been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor," Carter said.

She and the others want to know whether there's a correlation between their problems and the school's 30-year-old ventilation system.

The ventilation system is being blamed for poor air quality, mold and high carbon dioxide levels.

Deanne Clowes has two kids at the school and says they've been sick all year.

"Colds, headaches, just tired, a lot of just you know really exhausted. One of them has had a good solid cough, cold for about five weeks now," Clowes said.

Clowes says she'll move her kids to another school if the problem isn't fixed.

Senior Jessica Goodsell says it's hard to breathe in class. She isn't having any medical problems, but knows others that do.

"Since she came here, her allergies have gotten much worse every season," Goodsell said. "And I've had friends who have migraines, my brother has migraines, and they come from school and they get better when he comes home."

The eight teachers who have been diagnosed with benign brain tumors want an independent study into whether there's a correlation between the ventilation and their medical problems.

The school district says it needs up to $12 million to fix the problem.

A bill to approve a tax increase to make the repairs has passed the Arizona senate and is now being considered by the house.