Mold Raises Concerns at Schools

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P) November

10, 2004

Mold Raises Concerns at Schools

by Margot Susca, TCPalm News staff writer

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — In the five weeks since school reopened, teacher Tina Hill

has suffered from sore throats, sinus infections and headaches. Three times

she has visited the doctor, who prescribed steroids to combat symptoms.

But they persist. And they likely will as school officials struggle with five

years worth of hurricane-related repairs that may not address what some fear

is a chronic mold infestation.

Hill, a Lakewood Park Elementary School music teacher, attended a meeting

Friday with 30 others — among them parents, students and teachers — to lob

questions about post-hurricane conditions to district officials, a nationally

recognized hygiene company and the county health department.

Before the meeting, she asked other Lakewood Park staff members to sign a

paper, saying they have felt sick because of mold. Only two refused.

" When you walk in the building it's like a wet mask going on your face, " Hill

said. " All we're asking is to have the building tested. No one feels good. "

Air-quality tests have not been done because standards don't exist for

measuring harmful mold levels, said Jay Sall of Environmental and

Geosciences,

the district's hygiene contractor.

That puts parents, teachers and facilities staff in a difficult position —

how to sanitize 4.5 million square feet of schools when the government provides

no clear test for the effectiveness of the clean up.

" Testing for mold doesn't serve a purpose, " said Jim Moses, county

environmental health director.

Many parents at Friday's meeting were active in a group formed three years

ago that fought for mold testing and $250,000 in renovations at Rivers Edge

Elementary in Port St. Lucie.

They're skeptical that tests can't be done. They want school officials to

track health issues to determine whether unseen mold and dust are causing the

headaches and breathing difficulties their children experience during school

hours.

Almost all the complaints sound the same.

" The symptoms are congestion, stuffy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and

breathing difficulties, " Savanna Ridge Principal Barbara Kelley wrote about

faculty

members on Oct. 5.

Complaints also have come from Bayshore Elementary, Mariposa Elementary, Port

St. Lucie High, Rivers Edge Elementary, St. Lucie West Middle and the

transportation department.

Teachers and parents from other schools — including F.K. Sweet Elementary,

ta Elementary, Lincoln Park Academy, Manatee Elementary and St. Lucie West

Centennial High — attended Friday's meeting asking about testing and safety.

Even some school officials think testing might be a good idea.

" I'm sure if you ... or a few people from EE & G went to the school with your

meters, you would help end the complaints, " Assistant Superintendent

wrote in an Oct. 28 e-mail about a Port St. Lucie High teacher who

complained of bloody noses.

Redd, chief of the air pollution and respiratory health branch at the

Centers for Disease Control, said a majority of scientists believe mold harms

people with allergies or asthma.

Workers are bringing schools back to pre-hurricane conditions but teacher

Kelle Roesner says mold was a problem even before the hurricanes.

Since hurricanes Frances and Jeanne shut down the school system for more than

a month, crews removed 1 million square feet of carpet to cut down on mold

threats.

Working with EE & G and Broward County school employees, more than 1,000

workers invaded facilities, wiping away mold and ripping up rugs.

Thirty EE & G workers remain, and Facilities Director Marty does not

see a need for more based on the small number of complaints.

Some teachers at Friday's meeting sought better ways to lodge complaints and

asked when their rooms would be finished.

With an estimated $36 million in work left to do, said he does not

have a timeline.

To date, half of ceiling tiles and 30 percent of the 500 windows blown out by

the two storms have been replaced .

Bayshore Elementary still has windows boarded up and sub-flooring showing.

" I can't say everything is scheduled. We have five years' worth of work to

do, " said , who has tried to react quickly to complaints received since

schools reopened Oct. 4.

Four who wrote about problems — Kelley, Bayshore Principal Mosley, St.

Lucie West Middle Principal Helen and a Rivers Edge teacher — reached

Friday said the district is responding.

But with so many repairs still to be done, Hill, who has taught in St. Lucie

County for nine years, wonders when all her concerns will be addressed and if

her job is risking her health.

" The mold is hidden and you feel it as soon as you walk in the building, "

Hill said. " I refuse to go home and use my sick days for something that is

job-related. "

 

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