Jefferson Forest High School - Mold still a concern for many

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Jul 13, 2001 - 12:07 AM

Mold still a concern for many

By Hannon

The News & Advance

County and Lynchburg City Schools have been fielding more phone

calls than usual this year from parents in Bedford County interested in

applying for admission to their high schools.

Vasvary, assistant principal and athletic director at Brookville High

School, said although he hasn't been keeping track of exact numbers, it is a

significant increase.

" We've had a number of parents of students in Bedford call us, " Vasvary

said. They are interested for " obvious reasons " related to Jefferson Forest

High School, he said.

Jefferson Forest was closed April 27 due to the discovery that a potentially

harmful fungus, Stachybotrys chartarum, was growing inside classrooms. The

fungus thrives in wet walls, soggy carpet and damp floors - all of which

existed at the school due to a leaking roof that has been replaced. Students

and faculty experienced an increase in headaches, respiratory problems and

allergies for several months prior to the school's closing.

A complaint was filed with OSHA in early April, prompting a team of

engineers to test the school. They discovered three classrooms had elevated

levels of Stachybotrys; one had an elevated level of penicillium and one

room had visible mold on the drywall. The school board kept the school

closed for the remainder of the year.

Students spent the final three weeks of the school year at Forest Middle

School. The school is being cleaned this summer, and is expected to open on

time this fall.

Despite the cleaning process, some parents have reservations about their

children attending the school.

Tuck, division accountant for Lynchburg schools, said they have

received about five or six calls from Bedford County parents. She said the

handful is a larger number than in past years and all involved Jefferson

Forest students.

She said she has not received any applications, only inquiries. The high

cost of tuition per student in Lynchburg - $2,665 - may have caused parents

to look for less expensive options, she said. Tuition is $500 per student in

County.

Vasvary also has not received applications, just inquiries. Parents started

calling right after the mold was discovered he said, but now people may be

taking a wait-and-see approach.

" When it first broke people would call and say 'My son's not going to that

school' or 'My daughter's not going to that school,' " Vasvary said. " I think

people have calmed down now. "

Sports regulations may also deter people from applying, Vasvary said.

" The first thing I ask them when they call is if their child is involved

with athletics, " Vasvary said.

The Virginia High School League, the governing body for public high school

sports, requires students who transfer to a school in another county or city

to forfeit their eligibility for 365 days. The rule is waived if the

student's family has moved into the school's attendance zone.

Vasvary said the VHSL does allow students to appeal if there are special

circumstances, such as a medical concern with attending Jefferson Forest.

" They deal with things on an individual basis, " Vasvary said. " They wouldn't

waive the rule en masse. "

Both County and Lynchburg accept applications on a rolling basis,

and will still accept them once the school year has started.

" We'd prefer to get them sooner rather than later, " Vasvary said.

Parents in Bedford find themselves weighing concern for their children's'

health with the desire to allow them to stay with well-established circles

of friends, coaches and teachers.

Sharon Sitterley, a parent of a rising sophomore at Jefferson Forest, said

her child will be returning in the fall but can understand why other parents

may want to switch.

" I think some parents, because of the situation, may have a problem with

trust, " Sitterley said. " For me, if they do everything they say they're

going to do to clean it up, then I really feel comfortable. "

Sitterley's child never suffered any medical problems due to the mold, she

said.

" I may feel differently if I had a sick kid, " Sitterley said.