Parents React to Mold in Classrooms

March 21, 2007

WCBD-TV - Mt. Pleasant,SC

Larry

Some students and teachers on s Island think mold at Angel Oak

Elementary School is making them sick. Tuesday, they gathered to

voice concerns about a recurring mold problem on the campus.

The school's cafeteria was filled with angry and concerned parents.

" Our teachers and our students [are] going to classes, suffering

from headaches or allergies. We just want to know the answer, " one

parent said.

They are looking for answers and solutions. They want to know why

there was still mold in classrooms, even after a mold problem was

detected and cleaned previously.

" Apparently it wasn't... it's not all gone... it's back, " a teacher

said.

Edrastine Palmer is the President of the school's PTA, but more

importantly, she's a worried mother of a fourth grader.

" I'm very concerned, because I don't feel as thought the environment

is safe for the children, " she said.

Palmer isn't alone. Some parents are still dealing with what they

think are mold-induced illnesses.

" They've had breathing problems, asthma, hard to breath, coughing so

much they vomit, " said.

But, mold specialists and school district officials say the mold is

not causing illness.

" We really don't have an airborne mold problem. We don't have sick

building syndrome. We don't have mold contamination. We just had

isolated presence of mold which has been removed now, " Mark Cobb

said.

But, parents still want mold-prone areas taken care of, especially

portable classrooms. They want those taken off campus. It's all part

of a quest to keep kids well.

" This is our youngest group of children, our 4-year-old are in this

environment, " Palmer said.

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