Mold found in Hassan Elementary

[Guest guest]

Posted: 10/10/06

Mold found in Hassan Elementary

by Jake Muonio

Staff writer

http://www.erstarnews.com/2006/October/10mold.html

Star News - Elk River,MN

Mold has been found in the wall in two places at Hassan Elementary.

The effects on the school, which has only been open for a little

more than one school year, and how much mold is present is not

known, Director of Special Project Ron Bratlie said.

" As a result of a complaint at Hassan, humidity measurement tests

were taken, " Bratlie said. " A high percentage of moisture was

located in two areas. "

A contractor was then called in to remove pieces of the walls in the

affected areas. That lead to the discovery of mold in the walls.

Bratlie said legal papers informing the architects and construction

managers of the school of the problem were going to be severed on

Tuesday.

The problem appears to be directly related to poor construction,

Bratlie said.

The black mold found in the walls has also not yet been identified.

It is unknown if the problem could pose a health risk to students,

he said.

Bratlie told the School Board that the building should still be

under warranty.

Storm damage

While it appears the mold issue at Hassan is not related to the

tornado that tore through Sept. 16, the district is receiving

some sense of closure on the damage it sustained during the storm.

Bratlie said damage to the roof and fences at Middle School

totaled more than $1 million.

The district's insurance company has agreed to fully cover the

replacement costs for roofs that were damaged in the storm, as well

as the flooding damage at Meadowvale Elementary.