Mold Found At Lincoln County High School

October 26, 2002

Lincoln County, TN

Mold Found At Valley School

Christie del Amo Reports (video clip)

Christie del Amo Reports, 10/25/02

It's Long's last year at Lincoln County High School, so he wants to

make every day count. " It is fun. I've never enjoyed class quite as much as

this one, " Long says.

However, an unseen problem could have kept and other students of class

and sick in bed. " A few days ago, we discovered some mold in the school, "

says Bob Alden, maintenance supervisor for Lincoln County Schools. " Mainly,

[the problem is] in the northern portion of the high school, " Alden

explains.

This isn't the first time the problem has popped up. A few years ago, a wall

had to be torn down after it became contaminated with mold. The mold problem

in Lincoln County High has since been fixed, but it caused school officials

to look at a bigger picture: making this high school healthier.

" Anytime you're in a school this size with 1,000 to 1,200 students, you're

gonna have bacteria or a virus, " Alden says. " We're all breathing the same

air, " he continues.

Workers installed de-humidifiers, humidistats to battle the mold problem,

and spent more than $25,000 on germicidal lighting to clear the air of other

contaminants. " Essentially, this ultra violet lighting is installed into the

ducts and kills fungus, molds, etcetera, " added Alden.

While students and teachers can't physically see this newest addition,

they're hoping it will help them see more students in class.

Besides this new lighting, the Lincoln County Board of Education has asked

for a firm that specializes in industrial hygiene to come in and identify

the type of mold, and suggest a solution to the problem.

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