Another expert speaks on mold

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Thursday, October 27, 2005

Another expert speaks on mold

BY JOHN RICHARDS, Staff writer

Washington,PA

jrichard@...

http://www.observer-reporter.com/287198867938895.bsp

Trinity Area School District has contacted yet another environmental

specialist to address moisture and mold problems at two of its

elementary schools.

L. Blank of L. Kimball & Associates last week

addressed the school board to reassure directors and those in

attendance that Trinity West and Trinity North elementary schools

are safe for children to attend.

Blank, who prior to the meeting met privately with the board and

facility director Disque, reviewed data from air samples taken

at the elementary schools and notes taken from one of his colleagues

during a tour of the schools.

" I do not feel at this point in time there are any major health

issues for children to be in the buildings, " said Blank, vice

president of operations for the engineering firm's civil and

environmental division. " The levels of mold that we've seen

collected are very similar to what we've seen collected in homes

around the Pittsburgh area. "

The company has 30 years of experience in school investigation and

design projects and has performed more than 200 investigations in

the last year, he said.

Although Blank did not take questions from parents, superintendent

Turnbaugh will contact the various PTA groups to schedule

meetings at the elementary schools to allow representatives from

Kimball to address parents' concerns.

Disque will work with Kimball representatives to design

specifications for the remediation of mold at the elementary schools

and district business manager Shargots will advertise for

bids, Turnbaugh said.

If it is possible to safely remove the mold during the school year,

the district would like to have the work performed as soon as

possible. If, however, that cannot be done, the mold will have to

remain encapsulated until the summer break, Turnbaugh said.