Schools trash items exposed to mold, water

[Guest guest]

Schools trash items exposed to mold, water

Some are appalled stuff is being tossed

Times Picayune - New Orleans,LA

Thursday, August 17, 2006

By Steve Ritea

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-

6/115579699960150.xml & coll=1

Public schools throughout New Orleans are throwing away thousands of

desks, books, computers and other items that officials fear may have

been exposed to toxic mold or simply have fallen into disrepair.

But the massive housecleaning has left residents aghast. " It's

incredibly wasteful, " said Terry Gaskins, who saw musical

instruments, books and tables being hauled out of McDonogh No. 15

Elementary and thrown into a Dumpster as she watched from the back

window of French Quarter Postal Emporium, where she works. " People

are begging for some of the things that they're just throwing out. "

Meg Casper, a spokeswoman for the state-run Recovery School

District, said it's less expensive for the state to replace the

items than to clean or repair them. School officials want students

to attend school in the safest surroundings possible.

" We believe that we have to err on the side of caution when it comes

to giving students materials that have been exposed to mold and

other toxins like asbestos, " Casper said. " We must provide a healthy

environment for these children. They deserve nothing less. "

Casper said FEMA is footing the bill for all items damaged by the

storm. The state will cover the cost of replacement in some

instances if FEMA does not, she said.

In November the Legislature voted to place 107 of 128 public schools

in a state-run Recovery School District. A spokesman for the Orleans

Parish school district, which still operates five schools and

oversees several charters, said similar actions are being taken at

many of those schools as well.

In addition to equipment disposed of at McDonogh 15, furniture and

other items have been thrown out at McNair Elementary, which will

house KIPP Believe College Preparatory and the Priestley School of

Architecture and Construction, and Fortier High, which is being

taken over by the Lusher School.

Some of those schools, such as McDonogh No. 15, never flooded,

making the action all the more wasteful, Gaskins said.

Casper challenged that claim.

" Remember, these schools were closed up with no air conditioning for

several months, " she said. " Mold can exist without flooding. "

Casper said expensive items, such as some computer equipment that

would cost more to replace than remediate, are not being thrown out

in hopes they can still be used.

The state has not considered selling the items being thrown away,

she said, simply " because we can't certify that it's safe. "

.. . . . . . .

Steve Ritea can be reached at sritea@... or (504) 826-

3396.