School’s classrooms being tested for mold

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January 20, 2006

School's classrooms being tested for mold

http://sundaygazettemail.com/section/News/Other%20News/200601202

By K. Winn

Staff writer

WV

Students in portable classrooms at Point Harmony Elementary School

will be moved inside the building while more testing is done for

possible mold.

Earlier this week, a portable building was inspected by the Kanawha-

ton Health Department and the state Department of Health and

Human Resources after a teacher complained about mold, said

Maintenance Director Terry Hollandsworth during Thursday's Kanawha

County Board of Education meeting.

Inspectors did some sampling, but found limited mold, Hollandsworth

said. They also replaced the weather-stripping, cleaned the

countertops and cabinets, scrubbed the room and connected one

downspout, he said.

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" We can't tackle any issue if we don't know what it is, " said

Superintendent Ron Duerring.

Drainage problems have caused the underside of the 30-year-old

portable buildings to remain damp, which has caused mold, said

second-grade teacher ann , who brought the complaint to

school officials.

" It's like a swamp underneath there, " she said.

addressed the board and showed them a piece of insulation

from the underside of the building, which she crawled underneath to

obtain.

" They did not inspect under the building, " she said. " I don't think

that any of you would want this under your house or here at 200

St. [the central board office]. "

The inspector, who was not a mold expert, only took limited samples,

she said.

A Department of Education air-quality team has inspected the

portable buildings before and found higher than normal levels of

carbon dioxide.

" These portables not only have mold problems, they also have

ventilation, plumbing, hygiene and safety issues, "

said. " They pose a serious health and safety hazard to students and

teachers. "

Drainage problems have also been an issue, board members said.

" It was that way 10 years ago, " said board member Bill Raglin. " It's

like deja vu...I wouldn't want water under my house. "

" Certainly in this day and age, we can get water out from under a

building, " said board member Pete Thaw.

However, everything that has been done is merely a Band-Aid for the

problems, said Pamela Devany, who has three sons at Point Harmony.

" Our community is tired of a temporary solution to our problems, "

she said. " It is time to look forward. "

Duerring said he did not know exactly where in the building the

students would go while additional testing is done.

To contact staff writer K. Winn, use e-mail or call 348-5156.