Osceola County Portables - Mold Growing Inside of Classrooms

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Mold, Mildew Found Growing Inside Portable Classrooms

POSTED: 5:36 PM EST February 11, 2004

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- A Channel Nine investigation uncovered mold and mildew growing inside portable classrooms in Osceola County. One internal complaint from a teacher even sited a mushroom growing out from one of the walls. And parents say, their children are getting sick.

News of these problems has angered parents. They say the Osceola County School District is taking too long to make repairs, putting their children at risk. There's water damage to the ceiling and water leaking through the door at Poinciana Elementary. Three teachers say mold made them sick at y Creek Elementary. And, parents complained their children were getting sick because of mold at Pleasant Hill Elementary Channel Nine uncovered these complaints in internal memos. Mark Cavinee, the director of health and safety for the Osceola County School District says his department responds to all complaints. But, at Pleasant Hill, it took more than two weeks to respond to complaints of mold in a portable rented from another company. While we weren't given access to the portables, for fear we would disrupt the FCAT, the district provided us with the work orders that states the work has been completed. Not soon enough for Debbie Wemette, who says children, who spend hours inside these portables everyday exposed to these hazards, are being put at risk. The district disagrees and says they put children first and make the necessary repairs. The district says mold problems are common and could be rectified if they had more money, which they are hoping to get if voters pass a half-cent sales tax increase next month.

Copyright 2004 by wftv.com.