Tests show levels of mold, asbestos are safe at school

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Posted on Tue, Jan. 24, 2006

Tests show levels of mold, asbestos are safe at school

By a King

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/califor

nia/13698140.htm

Contra Costa Times - CA

CONTRA COSTA TIMESBRENTWOOD - Air and material testing at Liberty

High School have determined that portions of the aging campus are

safe for students and staff after concerns were raised about the

potential presence of asbestos and mold.

" The rooms are safe. We don't have to move kids out, " Superintendent

Dan said. " No disruption has to take place. "

The Liberty Union High School District hired RGA Environmental to

conduct air and material testing throughout the Brentwood school,

including the S-wing, L-building and Nash Hall. The testing was done

after English teacher and her students were moved out of

the S-wing. had taken two mold samples from the area a few

weeks ago and had them tested. The results came back positive for a

toxic form of mold.

RGA conducted its tests afterward and determined that the levels of

mold and asbestos posed no danger to students and staff.

In their report, the RGA consultants recommended that the district

retain a roofing company to deal with the S-wing's failing roof

draining system. They further stated that water intrusion from the

roofing didn't appear to cause an airborne fungal condition inside

the classrooms.

In response, Dan said the district is now repairing the leaks

and will replace the roof this summer.

said that she and other teachers knew the RGA testing

results would be normal because the company performed tests in

different conditions than what the students and teachers were

exposed to, since the maintenance staff had attempted to clean up

the area.

" It is great that the tests came back negative but that doesn't

establish whether there was exposure to begin with, " she said.

Test results indicate that two of three pieces of tile in the L-

building tested positive for asbestos. The district knew that this

form of asbestos was present in the tile and it is not an issue as

long as the glue or mastic and tile are encapsulated, according to

the superintendent.

That tile is not encapsulated in the book room because of an ongoing

construction project. has maintained that teachers and

students who used that room for copying and gathering textbooks may

have been exposed to asbestos when the flooring was cut.

" When those tiles were removed, there is a question of whether or

not we used proper procedures in removing those tiles. I'm very

concerned about how those tiles were removed and we are thoroughly

investigating that at this time, " Dan said. " What is

absolutely critical is that today the air quality in the book room

is safe. "

State Occupational Safety and Health Agency safety inspectors

visited the campus several times after filed a

complaint. She would like to see the district develop an

environmental plan based on the Tools for Schools model established

by the Environmental Protection Agency and other environmental

agencies.

" We need a plan for dealing with interior air-quality problems and

other hazards because there are all these new laws that have been

passed in the last few years, " she said.

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a King covers education in far East County. Reach her at 925-779-

7189 or pking@...