on County School Board hears recommendations on air quality at Big Elm Elementary

[Guest guest]

State makes recommendations on air quality at Big Elm Elementary

by Darlene J.

STAFF WRITER

SHINNSTON -- The state Department of Education says the on County

School Board, as well as the faculty of Big Elm Elementary School, can make

some changes to improve indoor air quality at the school.

The report was compiled by members of the Office of School Facilities

following their visit Sept. 25 to the school.

Dr. Carl Friebel, county superintendent, received a copy of the report

Friday. The document gives state recommendations on problems that have been

previously identified.

Friebel discussed the report briefly at the Monday evening board meeting. He

also made plans for Bill Elswick, school facilities executive director, to

explain the report on Thursday to state, county, school, union and parent

representatives.

" I want to be right up front with this and have everyone hear the same

thing, " Friebel said.

Friebel said he was happy the report shows there is not excessive mold;

there is no cause for an increased cancer rate, and there are no safety and

health issues.

" I feel we can implement these things with humidity as a comfort issue. We

take these things very seriously. We want a good environment for students

and faculty, " he said.

The most expensive step will be to install a building automation system

capable of monitoring and controlling humidity.

Friebel said the existing unit works on temperature and not humidity levels.

" We need to strategically identify the levels of high humidity, see what

type of system is needed and install these humidity sensors, " Friebel said.

Page , a fourth-grade teacher at Big Elm, had been eagerly awaiting the

findings.

filed a grievance on behalf of 33 employees concerning lost sick days.

The grievance alleges conditions at the school have caused or aggravated

health problems.

" The addition of humidity sensors would eliminate the need for portable

dehumidifiers. I think it would take care of the problem, " said .

Friebel said a few of the recommendations are easy to implement and a few

others are maintenance issues.

" As for the others, we are looking at that right now. The vast majority are

being completed and we continue to address them, " Friebel said.

said he thinks janitors are only given so many minutes to clean each

room.

" It could be that's an area they need to look at. Perhaps they need more

time, " said.

and Friebel said it would be an excellent idea to have an Indoor Air

Quality Tools for Schools team, as recommended by the report.

Staff writer Darlene J. can be reached at 626-1403 or by e-mail at

dtaylor@....

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