Student's illness prompts review of mold issues

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Student's illness prompts review of mold issues

By: ELIZABETH MISIEWICZ, Staff Writer

September 25, 2003

BETHANY - Amity Junior High School administrators are reviewing the mold issue at the school after a student was taken to the hospital Monday for an illness possibly related to mold.

As of Tuesday, the student was still not in school.School Supt. Helene Skrzyniarz said the student's doctor has not given her any paperwork confirming the relationship between mold and the student' illness, but the student's mother said the student is allergic to some molds.Mid-morning on Monday, the student came in after a physical education class and went to the nurse, according to Skrzyniarz."She was hyperventilating," she said. "She came in from the physical education class and was probably running."Skrzyniarz said she is concerned that something outside caused the student to hyperventilate."The student came in from the outside to the inside, so I'm concerned that there is something outside that triggered it," she said.Open fields and baseball fields surround Amity Junior High School, and woods circle the outside perimeter. "We hope to get another report from the doctor, and we hope the doctor writes a list as to what the student is allergic to," said Skrzyniarz. She said mold tests have been completed at Amity Junior High School by Gil Cormier Occupational Risk Consulting Services, and they indicated the school did not have dangerous levels of mold."Tests have shown that there is a presence of mold in the school, but we were never told to close classrooms or the school," she said.Skrzyniarz said mold could be connected to the school roof that leaks when it rains. "We are definitely looking into that source of mold and making the school safe for all children," said Skrzyniarz.She said a main problem is the fact that the school needs a new roof."The roof will need to go to referendum; it has been a priority," said Skrzyniarz. "We need to get it done in a timely manner. I don't know when it will go to referendum; the sooner the better."

©Amity Observer 2003

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