Modular Schools Exhibit Mold Problems article

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Modular Schools Exhibit Mold Problems

UPDATED: 5:18 pm EDT April 21, 2005

http://www.nbc17.com/news/4403741/detail.html

RALEIGH, N.C. -- As Wake County Schools officials prepare to begin

construction on three modular elementary schools to handle escalating

enrollments, contractors have only recently cleaned up mold problems

at four similar schools.

The school district plans to open the three modular schools this fall

in Raleigh, Wendell and Wake Forest. The last one prompted weeks of

protest from parents concerned about the location of the temporary

school.

But district officials uncovered a more pressing problem at several

existing modular buildings -- moldy growth that resulted in strong

odors.

" Tests found mold spores that were above the levels of mold spores

outside, " Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Mike Burriss said.

" Pieces of flashing and caulking were actually left out of the

assembly process, and that allowed an intrusion of water in a driving

rain. "

Contractors moved in at Enloe High School and Brentwood and Willow

Springs elementary schools and the Longview alternative school over

spring break to correct the problem quickly.

" Just as a child can have a severe peanut reaction, he may have same

kind of reaction to mold, " Burris said.

The modular schools are produced by assembling a number of classroom

units and a hallway into one building. He said rooms where mold was

found were isolated and cleaned up.

" A dry ice machine actually freezes and kills the mold itself, and

then we applied an encapsulated paint, " he said.

The effort has cost $107,000 so far, and Burriss said the contractors

would pick up the repair tab.

The manufacturer of the modular units also has made design changes to

the overhangs and building materials to prevent future problems, he

said.