St. East High School Closed

[Guest guest]

http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/dupage/article/0,2669,SAV-0104060235,FF

..html

MOLD TO KEEP SCHOOL SHUT

By LeAnn Spencer

Tribune Staff Reporter

April 6, 2001

Faced with the discovery of more potentially dangerous mold, school

officials said Thursday that St. East High School will be closed

indefinitely for further environmental testing and remediation.

Testing for mold could take two to three months, Kane County Regional Supt.

Clem Mejia said. All of the school, including indoor athletic facilities and

the Norris Cultural Arts Center, will be shut down.

" I do not anticipate us going in there before the end of the school year, "

District 303 Supt. Francis Kostel said during a news conference at the

district's administrative offices.

" The building will not be reopened until we receive a report from the state

Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health assuring me

that the building will be safe, " Mejia said.

Beginning April 16, East's 2,300 students will be shifted to newly opened

St. North High School, where there are about 900 freshmen and

sophomores. That building can hold about 2,000 students, so classes will

likely be held in morning and afternoon shifts, officials said. Some classes

and extracurricular activities might have to be located in other district

buildings.

The district has about 11,000 students in 15 buildings.

AAA Environmental, which is doing the testing, found mold this week in the

main part of the building. That discovery came after mold was found during a

routine check during spring break in an older portion of the school.

Officials then suspended classes this week.

The environmental testing had been scheduled as part of a school district

plan to examine the building for potential health hazards, officials said.

Parents and teachers, while applauding the school's closing, said it was

high time that district officials did extensive testing.

Earlier this week, a class-action lawsuit was filed by a student alleging

that he is suffering a variety of symptoms from exposure to mold at the

school. In March, a former student had filed suit charging that the school

had made her sick.

Students, teachers and parents have complained of air-quality problems in

the 1970s-era building since at least the mid-1980s. Reported symptoms

include sinus infections, sore throats and bronchial irritation. Some

contend that the district has dragged its feet in finding and fixing the

problems.

At least two students on Thursday said they had seen mold in the school.

Sophomore , who attended Thursday's briefing, wondered why it

took so long for school officials to act.

" I feel lied to by this school board and this administration, " said.

But Kostel said the school has been repeatedly tested over the years and

found to be safe. " This school has been examined six times by a variety of

groups. Getting to the bottom of this has always been our goal, " he said.

Some are skeptical. " They keep repeating the same thing over and over. Like

why don't they tell us something we don't know, " said junior Joe Vyhnanek.

Although students will have to make up two weeks of classes, officials said

graduation will take place as scheduled June 3.

" Our primary concern right now is the students, and that is the reason we

want to get them back in school, " Kostel said.

School officials said they have contacted the governor's office and may try

to acquire some portable structures. In addition, local churches have

offered space for student use.

Kostel said, " This will be a scheduling challenge, but I know we're up for

it. "

The district already has spent about $5.6 million in remodeling, including a

new ventilation system, new carpeting and floor tiles, to try to improve

conditions at the school.

The remodeling was done in the wake of a critical 1998 report by the

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health that noted several

problems, including mold, a lack of fresh air, high carbon dioxide levels

and water leakage.

Last week, three types of dangerous mold were discovered at the school,

stachybotrys, aspergillus, and penicillium. The mold can cause illness if

inhaled by susceptible people, such as those with impaired immune systems,

allergies or lung disease.

In an effort to keep the community informed about the mold and its dangers,

as well as the work at the school, the district has been posting updates on

its Web site.