Air quality meeting held at elementary school

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Air quality meeting held at elementary school

By PAMELA BATZEL

The Intelligencer

phillyburbs.com Pa

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-02142006-612362.html

Souderton schools - More than 40 parents attended an air quality

meeting Monday at the West Broad Street Elementary School, where

mold was found in carpets last summer.

While the Souderton Area School District cleaned those carpets and

subsequent tests show acceptable levels of mold and bacteria,

parents' concerns continue.

A few parents demanded that the district remove the carpets that

remain in 11 of the school's approximate 34 classrooms.

An environmental engineer for the federal Environmental Protection

Agency said carpets are " sponges " for allergens, including dirt and

debris.

However, Cristina Schulingkamp of the EPA said the school's problems

are " minor. " Last month she inspected the building and will give the

district her report this week. Assistant Superintendent R. Bradley

Clemens said the report with recommendations would be posted on the

district's Web site, probably by Wednesday.

A few parents also criticized the district for not sending

questionnaires home. They say a questionnaire could identify

children with symptoms that indicate mold and bacteria allergies.

Administrators said they were aware of two or three parents whose

children who have had problems. But parent Sherri said after

the meeting she has been contacted by eight to 10 parents.

's daughter, is, was moved to the Vernfield Elementary

School in November. Her condition — which included uncontrolled

asthma nose bleeds and exhaustion — has improved. The second-grader

had suffered at West Broad Street since kindergarten.

" I hope things get moving for the sake of the children's health, "

said.

While the district maintains that air quality in the school is good,

Clemens said the district recognizes that carpets can cause health

problems. The district started replacing its carpets with tile two

years ago. The carpets are removed based on their worn condition.

But Clemens told parents their removal would be taken up in the 2006-

07 budget discussions now under way.

Board President MacDougall said the carpet removal

is " certainly a priority " but that the board depends on

administrative input. He also questioned what impact the removal

would have on students currently having problems or on measurements

of mold and bacteria in the school.

The district made no commitment to conducting the questionnaire.

Clemens said he thinks one is likely in the future. The district,

with the EPA, will form a committee of parents, teachers and other

school personnel to monitor air quality in the school, using the

federal agency's Tools for Schools program, he said. That committee

could recommend the survey, Clemens said.

Ed Montz, who founded Indoor Air Solutions, a Pottstown company that

tested for mold in the school in December, said he had advised

against the questionnaire. He said parents reporting symptoms would

not help determine a problem in the school. " Symptoms are not a

diagnosis of disease, " he said.

But , Sherri 's husband, said a questionnaire could

be a " red flag. "

While Schulingkamp said the problems she found in the school were

minor, she had a list of recommendations for the district.

One recommendation is that it regrade the land around the school.

The earth slopes down toward the school, which can allow water to

soak into the building. The drainage in a dirt mound by the building

should be improved too, she said.

Bubbles on the roof indicate potential water penetration and should

also be fixed, she said. Rust was found on some of the ceiling grids

that hold the tiles, evidence of a humidity problem, she said.

Schulingkamp said the district should check the building's humidity

levels in the spring.

Mold needs moisture to grow. It feeds on paper, cardboard and carpet

adhesives.

Schulingkamp looked for various air quality concerns, not just

things that could cause mold. Some people are allergic to dust, for

instance. She advises the school to reduce the number of cushions

and fabrics in classrooms, too.

Judith Gostin, an industrial hygienist with the state Department of

Health, also presented findings from her walk-through of the school

in January. Her report is posted on the district Web site.

Pamela Batzel can be reached at (215) 345-3062 or

pbatzel@....

February 14, 2006 5:30 AM