Re: Washington Twp. school tested for mold

[Guest guest]

Well I see the school saga continues. Geez! Glad mine is over for now. I

hope they have good luck.

Hi Everyone,

I have not had time to post the past week, or answer to many e-mails. I

have been working 18 hour days. The next week will be very similar, got

bills to pay. Wish I new where we could all go where we didn't need money.

But, haven't found it. When I do, I'll let ya all know. Hope everyone is

doing alright. Have a good week!!!!

[] Washington Twp. school tested for mold

> Washington Twp. school tested for mold

>

> Saturday, May 14, 2005

> South Jersey

> http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m051405j.htm

>

> Consultant was hired by parents as part of lawsuit

> By LISA GRZYBOSKI

> Courier-Post Staff

> WASHINGTON TWP.

> An environmental consultant spent four hours in Orchard Valley

> Middle School on Friday collecting air, water and soil samples that

> will be tested for mold, bacteria and other particles.

>

> Quality Environmental Concepts Inc. of town was hired by a

> group of parents who are suing the Washington Township school

> district over mold problems at Orchard Valley and Chestnut Ridge

> middle schools.

>

> The parents, who filed the suit the summer of 2004, say the district

> hasn't done a good job handling the problem or keeping the public

> informed. They are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive

> damages.

>

> The district argues it has been upfront with parents since problems

> surfaced in the early 1990s and is taking the appropriate steps to

> fix them.

>

> Contractors are replacing the school buildings' heating, ventilation

> and air-conditioning systems at a cost of about $12.4 million.

> Voters approved the project in December.

>

> " We'll probably do every test from A to Z " with samples taken from

> the school, said Ed Knorr, co-owner of the firm. He collected about

> 20 samples Friday morning and afternoon while students were in

> school and will send them to EMSL Analytical Inc., a laboratory in

> Westmont. The results should be ready within three weeks, Knorr said.

>

> " These will finally end the saga over there of what's been

> happening, " he stated.

>

> Asked why Chestnut Ridge wasn't included in Friday's tests, Knorr

> said the two schools were built at the same time in the same way and

> called them " sister buildings. "

>

> The parents are paying for the tests, which could cost up to

> $18,000, he said.ADVERTISEMENT - CLICK TO ENLARGE OR VISIT WEBSITE

>

> Featured Advertisers All Shore Credit Care Advertise with us!

>

>

>

>

>

> The school district's consultant, R.A. West Associates Inc. of

> Newtown, Pa., was also on hand Friday, said school spokeswoman Jan

> Giel, who noted all the activity was " related to the ongoing lawsuit

> by the parent group. "

>

> " Our efforts are simply to follow them around, " said West,

> the firm's president.

>

> The company has tested both middle schools several times before for

> the school district, West said. However, he wouldn't elaborate,

> saying " we're at the point now where it's a matter of litigation and

> I can't speak more. "

>

> Louis Giansante, a stown environmental attorney representing

> the parents, said he and his clients felt they needed a second

> opinion. He remarked his firm is still getting reports of students

> and teachers complaining of health problems.

>

> " We think we have some very good anecdotal information, we think we

> have some very good epidemiological information, " Giansante

> stated. " But at some point we needed tests. "

>

> He said he and his clients are looking beyond mold to other

> particles. They wanted the testing done while classes were in

> session because studies have shown " you get different readings if

> you're in an empty classroom as opposed to an active one, " Giansante

> said.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

> -----------

> Reach Grzyboski at (856) 251-3345 or

> lgrzyboski@...

>

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>