s Valley mold lawsuit headed to court

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September 8, 2005

Santa Cruz,CA

s Valley High School Principal Gregg Gunkel would like to get

the classrooms behind him, closed because of mold problems, ready

for his students as soon as possible. (Bill Lovejoy / Sentinel)

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http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/September/08/local/stor

ies/06local.htm

s Valley mold lawsuit headed to court

School district hopes to settle $33 million suit

BY JEFF TOBIN

Sentinel Staff Writer

SCOTTS VALLEY — Negotiators continue to talk as a Sept. 26 trial

date looms in the lawsuit over shoddy construction at s Valley

High School.

The s Valley Unified School District filed a $33 million

lawsuit in 2001, claiming that more than 40 contractors are to blame

for a laundry list of problems encountered after opening the school

six years ago.

While the new school year is in full swing, eight classrooms in

three buildings, a wrestling room and a weight room remain sealed

because of mold. Damage also was done to the school's new gymnasium.

Some classes are taught in nine portable classrooms that have

internet access and air conditioning. Interim superintendent Tim

Cuneo said the students deserve access to all buildings on the

campus.

" It's frustrating because you have this plant sitting there and you

can't utilize it to its fullest extent, " Cuneo said.

The district contends that builders should have constructed better

drainage systems for the campus, which is in an area of rolling

hills. When water drained down from the hills, it saturated the new

classroom buildings, causing the mold to grow.

The campus is a study in contrasts. One portion looks new and modern

while another appears to be in a sort of stasis. Planters are empty,

large areas of dirt remain where grass should grow and drop-offs

near sidewalks have yet to be leveled off.

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These are just a few of the projects that were forced to stop once

the lawsuit was filed, said s Valley High School Principal

Gregg Gunkel.

" None of this should look this way. Does this look like a new

school? " Gunkel asked Wednesday as he walked through dirt picking up

trash. " We're hoping for a settlement so we can make this school

look the way it should as soon as possible. "

Settling the lawsuit has become more difficult over time as some of

the companies listed as defendants folded, Gunkel said.

Santa Clara-based Tech-5 Corporation, the construction management

firm listed in the lawsuit, did not respond to requests for comment.

Tech-5 was fired from its job overseeing the $32 million school

project in 2000.

While the mold does not pose a serious health risk to most people,

district officials say the contractors should have known water from

the adjacent hills would drain down to the school.

Mold-infested classrooms are evidence for the district, Cuneo said,

so rebuilding before a settlement is reached or a trial concludes is

not an option.

Fiss and Tim Volkmann, the district's attorney for the lawsuit, were

in mediation talks all day Wednesday.

Contact Jeff Tobin at jtobin@....