School officials deny rumors of dangerous mold

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School officials deny rumors of dangerous mold

Tests show mold is not a threat, but Los Fresnos parents are skeptical

By JEANNIE FLOYD

The Brownsville Herald

LOS FRESNOS — A mold scare at Los Fresnos Elementary has risen

tensions between parents, faculty and school administrators.

Although tests conducted by Allergy and Indoor Air Quality Lab Inc.

showed the mold was not a threat, parents are still skeptical.

Hurtado, a resident of Los Fresnos who has two children

attending the school, said he feels the mold could pose a threat to

students.

His daughter Hurtado is a second-grader at the school, and

his son Hurtado is in kindergarten.

" I am really concerned, " said Hurtado. " The public is not being made

aware. "

Hurtado's concerns stem from the relocation of his son's classroom

three times this year.

The kindergarten class, which was originally in Room 215 of the

school's main building, was relocated about 100 yards away to another

building next to the Rio Grande Marine Institute on Sept. 5.

They then moved back to the classroom, but on Oct. 5 moved to the

school library, which raised suspicions for Hurtado and other parents.

School administration, including Principal Janet Santa Ana, had told

Hurtado that the school is undergoing renovations.

" Why would they renovate a building that was just renovated during

the summer? " he said. " They are holding something back. "

Hurtado and other parents have attended school board meetings where

they have stated their grievances, but claim to have obtained no

substantial feedback.

School officials say that the class' relocation was because of

repairs being made to the faulty air conditioning system and had

nothing to do with mold.

They also said that parents had been warned in a timely manner about

the renovations occurring in the school.

Mc-based Allergy and Indoor Air Quality Lab Inc. had conducted a

second test on Wednesday to ensure that the school is safe.

The results for the second test will not be ready for another two

weeks, but lab director Mani Skaria said the school's mold does not

pose a threat.

" These types of mold spores can be found in any school, " said Skaria.

" Just finding them does not mean they are dangerous. I did not see

anything that was serious at this time. "

Skaria added that the school board asked him to conduct the tests

twice to assure the campus' safety.

" Whenever people complain, we have to take those complaints

seriously, " he said.

But Sharon Sato — Hurtado's son's kindergarten teacher — feels that

the school board is not doing their part in informing parents and

teachers of the situation.

" I don't like someone trying to hide anything when there are health

issues involved, " said Sato.

" I don't feel that they are being honest and open to everybody. If

there's mold, just say there's mold, even if it's bad mold or not. "

The superintendent was not available for comment.

Posted by: Mike on Nov 16, 03 | 9:10 pm | Profile