Mold woes growing at ph Melillo Middle School

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Mold woes growing at area school

Tara York, Register Staff

May 12, 2003

EAST HAVEN — At least two students at ph Melillo Middle School are being home-schooled and one of the families has filed a notice of intent to sue school officials over alleged mold problems.

Clare Cifarelli, the mother of a 14-year-old middle school student, plans to sue school officials for "negligence in allowing JMMS to become a health hazard."Cifarelli’s attorney, E. Deaton of New Haven, said the looming suit will target the Board of Education, individual board members and Superintendent DeFelice.The allegations come a year after school officials were forced to take several measures to eliminate mold and ventilation problems at Deer Run Elementary School, where several students and employees became ill.School officials would not comment about the middle school’s air quality Friday because of the pending litigation. A state Department of Labor report two years ago, however, indicated there was no health hazard at the school.At least two determined families and an anonymous school staff member said they have reason to believe otherwise.Cifarelli could not be reached Friday, but Deaton said his client was forced to home-school her daughter in February because of severe mold-related health problems. Deaton said the student suffered respiratory ailments that required sinus surgery, indicating exposure to mold."I anticipate getting into the school with an expert to see what the current condition is," Deaton said. "I’m sure that we’re going to be able to find the source.""I don’t think these are isolated events," said Deaton, who is also working on school mold-related suits in Torrington and Litchfield.At least one other middle school student is being home-schooled because of reported mold-related ailments. Lucatino said her daughter, Lea, 12, has been home-schooled for the past several months because of ailments related to mold. Lucatino said her daughter has missed out on treasured school events, including two school dances and playing for the softball team."It’s not healthy for her," Lucatino said. "She needs to participate in school functions."Lucatino said that, in the course of the school year, her daughter had persistent upper-respiratory ailments. Lea’s pediatrician wrote a letter Jan. 27 that said, "Until the school environment can be certified as healthy, it is probably best for Lea to continue her education in a different setting." The doctor said Lea should be home-schooled until the school was "deemed a safe and healthy environment."Lucatino said she has no plans to sue the school but wants the building cleaned so that her daughter can return.A school staff member also filed a complaint about the school’s air quality with the state Labor Department about two years ago.The complaint led to an inspection by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration that ultimately deemed the school was safe in a June 2001 report.An OSHA official explained Friday that the findings indicate the school air quality is far from hazardous, but might be considered uncomfortable."There’s nothing in the report that is damaging," said Palo, OSHA manager. "It (air pollutants and mold) were way below the permissible level, but above the comfort level."The staff member who filed an anonymous complaint claimed the school had stained ceiling tiles, poor air quality, mold, exposed electrical wires, dirty carpet and asbestos.Palo said an occupational hygienist tested for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, air pollutants, temperature, humidity and various molds. He said that about three rooms had carbon dioxide levels that might be considered uncomfortable, but were well below hazardous levels. No pollutants were detected, tiles with asbestos were intact and mold levels were lower than the outdoors, Palo said.DeFelice said he would not comment on alleged mold problems Friday, but said all the schools are inspected regularly through the "Tools for Schools" program. The program involves school administrators, custodians, a nurse, teachers and parents who are trained by the state to identify mold problems and make improvements.Lucatino was invited to go on a walk through the school in April and said she also found stained ceiling tiles, dirt buildup on ceiling fans and dehumidifiers filling up with water. ph Travaglino, the school buildings and grounds maintenance director, said last week that there are no apparent mold or other maintenance problems at the middle school. He said the East Shore Health Department officials have plans to release a report on the school soon.Health Director Jim Monopoli could not be reached Friday.

Tara York can be reached at 789-5710 or tyork@... .