Moody School mold problem raises concerns

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Moody School mold problem raises concerns

By MELISSA BAILEY, Middletown Press Staff01/12/2006

http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=15913618 & BRD=1645 & PAG=461 & dept_id=10856 & rfi=6

Middletown,CT

MIDDLETOWN -- Teacher Rodman and her 17-student second-grade

class returned from winter break to find their classroom quarantined

while a cleaning crew attacked a mold problem at her portable

classroom at the Van Buren Moody Elementary School.

Rodman says staff have been complaining for over two years about

leaking roofs and a lingering mildew smell, but last week was the

breaking point for her: Her second-grade class was relocated to the

library for four days, while officials tended to mold problems

within one wall of her classroom.

Her class was moved again when more mold problems were discovered

behind a library shelf, she said. Now she's teaching in a teacher's

prep classroom, creating lessons without standard supplies such as

math workbooks, which are still quarantined.

She said the kids are handling the unexpected move well: " My class

as a whole has been troopers. "

But Rodman and a crowd of about 40 staff and parents who gathered at

Tuesday's school board meeting told officials they were not happy

campers.

School board members have responded sympathetically, urging quick

remedy. " There's a (second-grade) class that isn't getting the best

experience now in school and that bothers me, " said school board

Vice Chair Ted Raczka after the meeting.

" We need to take it very seriously and get it fixed. " At the

meeting, Raczka urged that a timeline be presented and a

subcommittee formed.

Besides relocation inconveniences, Rodman worried about the removal

process: Mold-contaminated objects were wheeled through school

hallways in a Dumpster, instead of being removed outside by a more

direct route.

City health department officials at the school Tuesday said the wall

in Rodman's classroom had been cleaned over break, but, responding

to criticism within the school, the city will have the job done

again.

" There was enough concern from teachers as to how the process was

handled, " said Sal Nesci of the city health department, " that we --

the superintendent, school board, mayor and the health department --

will keep the room cordoned off and have it cleaned by a different

cleaning service. "

Nesci said the project would be overseen by a third-party manager

not only to ensure sanitation, but to ensure confidence from staff

and teachers.

The room was closed on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m., said Nesci. " We hope to

have it re-opened immediately following MLK's birthday, " which is

celebrated on Monday.

" The health department is in charge -- they will do an excellent

job. I have confidence in them, " remarked school Principal

Norman Tuesday.

Those concerned are invited to a public forum on this topic on Jan.

19 at 6 p.m. at the Moody School.

To contact , call (860)347-3331 ext. 220 or e-mail

mbailey@....