Parents concerned for health of children with allergies

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town may test schools for mold

Parents concerned for health of children with allergies

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/102105/REG_B7T9SMB1.033.shtml

Friday, October 21, 2005

BY BRENDA BOWEN

OF THE JOURNAL STAR

Peoria,IL

LEWISTOWN - A town School Board committee will look into having

the district's buildings tested for mold in response to a request

from a parent at a board meeting Wednesday.

Rice, the parent of five children in the district, said she

was approached by around 15 other parents, all concerned about

possible mold in the Central School, where junior high students

attend.

Rice said she has heard unconfirmed reports of " black stuff " that

looks like mold on pipes in the music room. She said none of the

parents are positive mold exists, but they think a comprehensive

study is needed.

Mold can cause health problems in people with allergies and

breathing difficulties, Rice said.

She told the board the Illinois Department of Public Health can

provide free materials to test for mold.

Around 15 people were in the audience at Wednesday's meeting at the

Village Hall.

Board member Rodney Yurkovich said he thinks the matter is urgent

and should have been acted upon immediately, even though it was not

listed on the meeting's agenda.

" Let's do the right thing here, I don't care if it's on the agenda

or not, " he said.

Yurkovich said he wanted to give approval for a study by a

Springfield company called Environmental Health.

Ted Myetich, the chairman of the building and grounds committee,

said he agrees testing is needed. But he added the board needs more

information before voting on the matter. He called a meeting of his

committee for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the board meeting room at the

grade school.

Rice said she recommends that if mold is found, the district should

implement a mold prevention policy and clean the carpets and air

ducts more frequently. She said she was satisfied with the board's

response to her request and hopes members will follow through with

it.