More mold testing planned for portable unit

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12/28/05

More mold testing planned for portable unit

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/122805/np5.htm?

date=122805 & story=np5.htm

NORTH PORT -- Children First is ordering more testing for mold in

its portable Head Start classroom, according to Philip Tavill,

Executive Director of Children First.

Children First, the agency that administers the Head Start program

in North Port, first told the Sun last month that the children were

being relocated to other Head Start centers while the mold situation

was studied. The portable unit in question is on the grounds of

Glenallen Elementary School.

" We did some earlier remediation of mold and thought we had the

situation cleaned up, " Tavill said adding the flooring, walls and

ductwork were cleaned with a dilute bleach solution last fall. " At

first it seemed that the cleanup had done the job, but the mold came

back in a couple of weeks. "

In late November, Children First set up a meeting for the Head Start

parents to explain the mold situation. At that time, as reported in

the Sun, alternative locations for the children were set up while

Children First had consultants look more closely at the portable

unit.

" The consultants said that this additional testing would cost about

$1,200 to $1,500, " Tavill said on Monday. " So we decided to go ahead

and see what the testing will show us. Whether we try to remediate

and use that unit, or demolish it, will depend on what this testing

shows. " Tavill said that the testing is expected to be done by the

end of the year, and results will be available early in January. At

present there are no plans to return the Head Start children to the

portable unit.

" We should know by the middle of January what we are going to do

with that unit, " Tavill said.

The use of portable classrooms at the Glenallen Elementary School

has been controversial. Other units in addition to the Head Start

classroom were alleged to have mold, precipitating several lawsuits.

Certain types of mold are known to cause respiratory diseases, and

children are particularly susceptible.

Children First is, meanwhile, constructing a building in North Port

along Pan American Boulevard to serve as permanent quarters for the

Head Start program here. When the building is complete, anticipated

in September 2006, the portable unit will no longer be needed for

classroom space.

In other news, Tavill reported that a $38,685 grant from the a

Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation is allowing Children First to buy a

new school bus to take Head Start children on field trips and for

other uses. More than 90 percent of the children in the Head Start

program live below the national poverty level and are at greater

risk due to disability or health issues.

" This bus will let us take children on field trips to places they

could not visit otherwise, " Tavill said. " We can also use the bus to

take the children to important doctor appointments, dentist

appointments and the like. "

Head Start is a federal program designed to help underprivileged

children gain much-needed skills to prepare them for school. Studies

show that children living in poverty are less likely to gain the

learning and social skills needed to begin school. Head Start is

designed to help children living in poverty acquire the skills they

need to succeed in schools.

You can e-mail E. Hoffman at shoffman@....

By SUSAN E. HOFFMAN

North Port Assistant Editor