Mold forces carpet removal

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Mold forces carpet removal

Source of excess moisture undetermined

http://www.register-mail.com/stories/020106/LOC_B8S59LPI.GID.shtml

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Galesburg,IL

By CAROL CLARK

The Register-Mail

BIGGSVILLE - West Central School District is taking steps to improve

air quality after recent tests found a moderate level of mold spores

in a second-grade classroom.

Superintendent Ralph Grimm told parents in a letter Monday the

district conducted the air sampling tests two weeks ago in several

elementary classrooms because of concerns about air quality.

Grimm said the district learned Friday that " moderate levels of mold

spores were present in the air " in Carolyn ' second-grade

classroom. Grimm said school officials conducted a visual inspection

of the room but were unable to detect any mold on the walls,

ceiling, carpet or other surfaces.

Air quality tests were performed in four other elementary

classrooms, but the results of those samples did not indicate any

air quality issues.

To be on the safe side, the school will be removing all the

carpeting from the elementary school.

Grimm said no source of moisture was found in the second-grade

classroom.

School employees worked late Monday night scraping the carpet from

the floor. The floor was then cleaned and the room ventilated.

" We will be doing all of this under the direction of our district's

architect as well as an air quality specialist from a firm in the

Quad Cities, " Grimm said in the letter.

The carpeting will be removed from Ford's third-grade

classroom this week. Grimm said the air in that room was tested and

no mold was found.

" We are doing this not because of concern over an air sampling test

result but rather it (was) reported to us that that room is

generally moist and has a particular odor to it, " Grimm said. " We

are also looking at the ventilation system in that room to determine

whether or not there are any possible sources of moisture that need

to be addressed. "

Grimm said District 235 is taking the mold problem at the school

seriously. He said the district has chosen to be proactive and

aggressive in dealing with the problem. He added the district will

take the necessary steps to improve the heating and ventilation

system to make sure the school has proper air quality in each room

every as well as make sure of the proper exchange between inside and

outside air in the school.

In an unrelated matter, Grimm said the district is installing a

second wastewater holding tank at the North Campus to reduce the

offensive odor coming from the wastewater treatment system. Grimm

said by adding the second tank, the district will be able to operate

the system at night when no one is around.

" By doing this, we hope to eliminate the offensive odor that comes

from that facility on a frequent basis at times when our students,

staff and the community members are present, " he said.