Mold forms in three schools as classes near

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Mold forms in three schools as classes near

Originally published August 10, 2005

Murfreesboro,Tennessee

http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20050810/NEWS01/508100324/1002

By SCOTT BRODEN

sbroden@...

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Engineers will examine why new heating and cooling systems appear to

be leaving non-threatening mold residue in classrooms at Buchanan,

Christiana and Walter Hill elementary schools, a spokesman said.

" It's not a health concern, but it's a nuisance, " said ,

spokesman for Rutherford County Schools.

District officials do not expect mold to be a problem when students

return for an abbreviated registration day Thursday, said. The

county's students will be off Friday and return for their first full

instruction day Monday.

All three of the schools involved had heating and cooling systems

replaced within the past year, said.

County Schools engineer Clardy has examined the three schools

and determined that the residue is not the " black mold " that can

cause a health problem, said.

Clardy, who serves as the district's assistant superintendent of

engineering and construction, recently completed training on mold

issues, added.

At Walter Hill Elementary, district maintenance crews and

representatives from Hawk Mechanical examined the problem and will

meet at the school again this afternoon, Principal Butch

said.

" We had to do some extra cleaning, " said , adding that his

staff cleaned mold from the same tables and chairs more than

once. " We haven't seen a lot this week since Sunday. Teachers are

back in the classroom getting things ready. I think we're over the

worst of it. I hope so anyway. "

added that the filters for his school's heating and cooling

system have not been changed by either the district's maintenance

department or contractor that installed a new system.

" I think that's the main reason we've had the moisture, " said

, adding he hopes the appropriate party will take

responsibility for changing the filters. " Those things got

saturated, and they can only hold so much. I can't put the blame on

anybody at this point in time. Let's get it fixed. "

At Christiana Elementary, mold was not a problem for library

educational assistant Barbara Sullivan or her three children when

they attended the older campus, but none of them have " respiratory

problems. "

Sullivan said she has seen a few older books with mildew.

" I don't know if that would be enough to cause a problem for any

children, " Sullivan said.

The mold at Christiana Elementary was only in some classrooms in

spots, and staff cleaned it up, Principal Sue Parsley said.

" It's very minimal, " Parsley said. " We've been cleaning it. Anytime

you have mold, you want to use bleach to get rid of it. "

Parsley appreciates how the board provided the powerful heating and

cooling system and new " beautiful " air-tight windows, but

adjustments may need to be made to prevent condensation that leads

to mold.

" Environmental factors were just right for it to grow, " Parsley

said. " It's a matter of cold air and hot air and condensation. We've

not always had the extreme heat and the high humidity this summer. "

Parsley said her staff noticed the mold about two weeks ago and

notified the central office.

" They jumped right on it, " she said.

At Buchanan School, teachers removed mold from their rooms,

Principal Mike Swanson said.

" They had to work pretty hard during the day, " Swanson said. " We've

cleaned it up. "

Staff will continue to examine the building for problems, Swanson

added.

" We hope to be ready by the time school starts, " he said. " We're

just trying to get it taken care of. "