Kings hires company to investigate, fix mold problems

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Kings hires company to investigate, fix mold problems

By Braud Staff Reporter

http://www.communitypress.com/DeerfieldTownshipOH/News.asp?

pageType=StoryCurrent & StoryArchiveID=16794 & StoryID=4935 & Section=Main%

20News & OnlineSection=Main%20News & SectionPubDate=Wednesday,%20August%

2017,%202005 & RefDate=8/17/2005

KINGS MILLS - Kim Grant was glad to hear the Kings school district

has hired a company to find a permanent solution to mold problems.

Grant's daughter graduated from Kings High School in 2004 and her

son is now a sophomore at the school.

Her daughter was in choir and would come home from school with

headaches because of the mold, she said.

Kings High School has a history of mold problems, with reports from

2001, 2003, and 2004.

In an attempt to permanently eliminate the mold problems, the

district recently hired Perfection Mechanical to evaluate the

heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, said

Superintendent Chuck Mason.

" What we want to find out is the systemic problem so we can fix it, "

Mason said.

" I just want to find out what is causing the problem, " he said.

The evaluation isn't finished, but Mason hopes to have the air

conditioning fixed in the auditorium and installed in the gym by the

end of this school year.

This will be a costly project and estimates are not available as of

yet, Mason said.

In June, following complaints from parents, Proactive Consulting was

hired to conduct a follow-up review of the continuing mold problems.

Roof leaks were fixed, insulation replaced, and mold removed.

Upon Proactive's recommendation, the district also hired the M.S.

Crandall Group Indoor Environmental Services to work with the school

during the current inspections and the remediation process.

High School principal Tom Higgins said he doesn't know if the mold

has adversely affected the health of students and staff.

" We go all year with kids out for different reasons. There is no

specific data that says 'so and so was out because of this and

that,' " he said.

Higgins did say he had some congestion problems when in the school.

Dr. Bernstein, associate professor of medicine at the

University of Cincinnati, said long-term effects of mold exposure

are still unknown.

It's not a simple problem and work is ongoing to understand mold and

its toxic effects, he said.

Possible reactions for people allergic and sensitive to mold include

rashes, cognitive problems, dizziness, trouble concentrating,

headaches, and congestion.

Brown, who also has a son in the high school, started

approaching the board in 2001 about mold in the high school.

" Why wasn't this done in 2001 when they were advised of this

problem? Why wasn't it taken care of in 2003 and 2004 when it was

brought to their attention? " he said.

Grant said it has to do with a change in the administration and the

parents, including Mason, who came to the district in 2003; Steve

Waldmann, who was hired in 2004 as manager of school business

affairs; and Toby Darkins, a newer school board member.

" This is getting done because of parent involvement. The board

should be grateful that parents care enough, " she said.

" I'm really pleased with (Waldmann) and how he is addressing this

(mold) issue. Once told about it he jumped full speed ahead, " Grant

said.

In one year Waldmann implemented a preventative maintenance program

and an online work order system.

" I wasn't here so I don't know why (a preventative maintenance

program) wasn't in place, " Mason said. " The first year I was here we

had the lead problem. The first mold I dealt with was in 2004.

" We are trying to take care of the problems we have now, " he said.

" In the past we would clean it up and think the problem was taken

care of, but then it would come back. "

lbraud@...

248-7129

Send a Letter to the Editor