Classical High School now has problem with mold

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Classical High School now has problem with mold

The Daily Item of Lynn - Boston,MA,

By Jill Gadsby

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/news/view.bg?articleid=12413

Friday, June 23, 2006

LYNN -- Mold has been found in between the walls at Classical High

School and the city is seeking bids to remove it.

According to Inspectional Services Director Donovan,

the mold was discovered in the school's main corridor and in the

library during air quality testing in January and March.

" Due to moisture intrusion around the skylights, there is some

mold growing on the backside of some sheetrock, " he said. " If you

walked in there, you wouldn't see anything, but if you poked a hole

in the wall, you'd see it. "

Because the mold is trapped in the cavity between interior and

exterior walls, Donovan said it does not pose any health risk. He

said the mold was only discovered because of the thoroughness of the

testing.

" They probed the wall boards and that's how they found it, " he

said. " They found it and we're taking care of it. "

Superintendent of Schools Kostan also indicated there

was no danger to students or staff.

" We've been doing testing down there on a regular basis, " he

said. " We just want to take every precaution we can. We want to take

a look at it and correct it if it's a problem. "

Donovan said the moisture that led to the mold is due to

problems with what he refers to as the building envelope, or its

façade.

In April, an engineering firm declared the problems were the

result of 12 different construction and design deficiencies.

To repair the problems, the firm recommended six steps,

including removing the building's entire brick veneer so it can be

rebuilt with the appropriate air barriers, weatherproofing and

flashing.

The firm estimated repairs to the façade would cost $3.7

million.

Donovan said additional mold was found in the guidance office,

but it was unrelated to the façade.

" There were only a few spots where we had visible mold on some

ceiling tiles that was the result of some plumbing problems, " he

said. " I believe the custodians already came and (replaced them). "

He said the city has waited to remove the mold between the

walls until school lets out for the summer.

A pre-bid walk through and conference is scheduled Wednesday at

Classical for companies that are interested in submitting a bid to

the city. Bids are due on July 12.

In addition to the money needed to remove the mold and fix the

façade, $14 million to $19 million is needed to repair the concrete

slab the 6-year-old school sits on.

The slab is sinking into the former landfill underneath

Classical, creating crumbling walls, two-inch gaps where one part of

the building has pulled away from another, buckled ceiling tiles,

cracked and lifted floor tiles, shattered trophy case glass,

misaligned doors, and jagged floor-to-ceiling cracks in the walls.

The city has already spent $800,000 on temporary repairs and

consultant fees and it is expected another $3 million will be needed

to prepare alternative locations for 1,500 Classical students to

attend school and for transportation to get them there.