Study: Mold, mice ail Hub schools

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Study: Mold, mice ail Hub schools

By Marie Szaniszlo

Sunday, March 12, 2006

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=130095

Boston Herald Sat, 11 Mar 2006

Harvard Kent Elementary School in town, Curley

Elementary School in Jamaica Plain and Quincy Upper 3 are the

sickest public school buildings in the Hub, exposing students and

staff to everything from mold to mice, according to a recent study.

The report by the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational

Safety and Health and the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition found that

Harvard Kent had the highest percentage of rooms with leaks (62.5),

followed by E. Curley Middle School (58) and (54.2)

Middle School.

The largest proportions of rooms with rodents or insects were

found at Curley Elementary (60.7 percent), Health Careers Academy

(56.3 percent) and Hennigan Elementary (50 percent).

Quincy Upper 3 had the highest percentage of rooms with mold

(38.5), followed by West Roxbury High (28.3) and Quincy Upper 2

(17.6).

The report suggests that schools with the most environmental

problems also have higher-than-average rates of asthma, the leading

chronic health problem treated in Boston public schools.

At E. Curley Middle School, where 11.66 percent of students

have been diagnosed with asthma, Principal Geraldo ez said

their breathing problems have been exacerbated by the school's

leaks.

" We have water that makes its way into the building causing

leaks, paint to flake and fall on students and teachers and dust to

cover the radiators, " ez said. " As a result, many of our

students with asthma . . . are out a lot and . . . their grades

suffer. "

The report, released at last week's City Council hearing,

recommended that the city spend $200 million for repairs.

Schools spokesman Palumbo said the city regularly

addresses environmental problems, but there is a limit to how much

it can afford.

Some parents find that unacceptable. " It should be about the

health of our children, " said White, BUAC parent leader with

two kids in public school. " The money should be in the budget to fix

our schools. "