Board gives OK for air quality check in Alcoa schools (vale, TN)

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http://www.thedailytimes.com/sited/story/html/108545

Board gives OK for air quality check in Alcoa schools

2002-10-16

by

of The Daily Times Staff

The Alcoa Board of Education wants to find a company to analyze air quality

in city school facilities.

The board Tuesday unanimously approved a motion to allow Director of Schools

Jane Qualls and Board of Education Chairman Mickey McClurg to contract for

professional air quality services for no more than $5,000 initially.

Qualls said she and McClurg were interviewing three firms to test air

quality in the facilities.

Concern over possible mold and other airborne contaminants in Alcoa schools

has been growing since mold problems were discovered in the Blount County

school system.

Toni McGuire, a former substitute teacher at Alcoa Elementary School, told

the Board of Education that something at the school makes her ill. ``I'm a

substitute teacher there, and I've had problems since I started there,'' she

said.

Parents are concerned about the air quality in the schools, McGuire said.

``We're concerned that the testing be done in a timely manner so we don't

get into a situation like Heritage High School.''

McClurg told McGuire the Board of Education is taking the matter seriously.

``We appreciate your concerns, but we intend to do it right,'' he said.

Testing would need to be done while school is in session for accuracy,

Qualls said.

``If you want a real sample of what kids are being expose to, you take

samples while people are there,'' Qualls said.

Air quality has been a topic of much concern in local schools recently.

Heritage High School opened Monday after a 20-day closure to undergo an

extensive mold abatement program.

The Blount County Board of Education voted Sept. 10 to close the high school

after elevated levels of mold were found in three classrooms.

Testing by Helton and Associates found higher levels of

aspergillus/penicillium mold in three classrooms than existed outside the

building.

The Blount County Commission Budget Committee on Oct. 7 approved a $1.3

million appropriation for additional mold abatement in county schools.

This will fund mold abatement work on Montvale Elementary, Friendsville

Elementary and Blount High School.

The full commission must approve the appropriation, which will be included

in a $9 million bond issue scheduled for January.