Evacuation Not Needed

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Published Monday, June 12, 2006

Report: Evacuation Not Needed

Classes can resume at the juvenile justice facility as mold is

removed, study states.

By Crouse

The Ledger

POLK CITY,FL.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20060612/NEWS/606120350/1004/RSS & source=RSS

POLK CITY -- More than two-thirds of the staff working at the Polk

Juvenile Correctional Facility reported symptoms -- such as runny

noses, sneezing or headaches -- related to poor indoor air quality

caused by mold, according to a recent survey by the Polk County

Health Department.

That percentage is more than double the typical rate for a

building's occupants.

But the complaints aren't so severe that staff needs to evacuate the

facility while the mold is removed this summer, said Wesley Nall,

author of the survey and environmental supervisor for the health

department.

PCJF is a state-run youth detention center for more than 200

inmates, most of whom are repeat felony offenders. Inmates attend

classes at an on-site school named Sabal Palm. The Polk School

District provides the teachers, curriculum, technology and materials

for the school.

The DJJ requested a health assessment of the facility after two

independent reports confirmed mold in the detention complex's

buildings and poor indoor air quality. Nall conducted the review in

April.

In early March, the district pulled its nearly 40 teachers and

employees out of Sabal Palm. The staff complained of poor indoor air

quality and adverse health reactions to the mold. School began again

in April with classes moved out of the mold-heavy school building

into less polluted rooms on the grounds.

Nall surveyed the Sabal Palm teachers, facility staff and a random

sampling of inmates.

He found that 97 percent of the school staff and 71 percent of the

facility staff said they had complaints about the air quality.

School staff complained most about stuffy air, foul odors and dust.

Facility staff complained to a lesser degree about stuffiness and

odors. Some facility staff members complained about cold

temperatures in the building.

At least 90 percent of school staff, 71 percent of facility staff

and PLEASE SEE PCJF, PAGE B4

71 percent of youth reported experiencing one or more weekly

health symptoms, such as headaches, sinus problems, runny nose,

irritated eyes or coughing.

Of the school staff, 70 percent sought medical attention for their

symptoms. Twenty-eight percent of the facility staff did.

Sixty-seven percent of the inmates said they felt the need to seek

medical attention for the health problems.

Generally, 25 percent to 30 percent of any building occupants

complain about air quality, Nall said in the report.

Because so many more people complained about quality at PCJF, Nall

said, the DJJ should take action to remove the mold. As long as the

mold mitigation is done properly, Nall said, there's no need for

mass evacuation.

When mold is removed from a building, the contaminated rooms are

sealed off with plastic so that spores in the air don't infect other

healthy parts of the building.

Certain hypersensitive individuals may want to reconsider working

there, however, Nall added. The DJJ also should consider the

environmental issues when assigning students to PJCF.

At PCJF, the Polk school district provides the teachers and

materials to run the school. The DJJ contracts with Group 4

Securicor Youth Services (G4S) to manage the school. The company

also runs seven other detention sites, including Avon Park Youth

Academy in South Polk.

G4S is in charge of providing the guards, medical staff and general

maintenance, said Morgenthau, the company's chief operating

officer.

Morgenthau doesn't doubt the veracity of the health report, but he

questioned how much good such an air-quality survey does.

" I bet if you went into Applebee's (restaurant) and gave everyone

there the same survey, you'd get the same results, " he said.

Still, he said G4S recognizes there is a problem at the facility and

is working with the DJJ to mitigate the mold as easily as possible.

The DJJ received $20.8 million from the legislature this year to

repair and maintain its facilities. It is expected to earmark about

$5 million of that for mold mitigation at PCJF, said

Lorenzo, spokeswoman for DJJ.

The DJJ has contacted an environmental company to draw up plans for

the mitigation and reconstruction of the facility, she said.

In the meantime, portable classrooms have been brought in but are

not yet hooked up. Sabal Palm teachers are working out of small

rooms in the dormitory buildings.

The health survey prompted the Sabal teachers to ask Polk Education

Association, the teachers union, for help.

Robin Seibel, Sabal Palm's union representative, said the teachers

have felt abandoned since Dennis Higgins was taken off the case.

Higgins, the district's senior director of alternative education,

was suspended for a week after he pressured the DJJ to fix the

problems at the detention center. He's returned to work but has been

removed from overseeing Sabal Palm.

" We're getting swept under the table, " Seibel said. " I don't see

anyone looking out for the employees. "

Seibel registered students at Sabal Palm. She still performs her job

but is working out of the Dwight Center, another alternative

education site in Lakeland, because of hypersensitivity to the moldy

air.

PEA President nne Capoziello said she hopes to make sure the

Sabal Palm employees have a " healthy and happy work environment. "

Crouse can be reached at julia.crouse@... or 863-802-

7536.