Mold inside school fueling new debate

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Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Mold inside school fueling new debate

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/2084394.shtml

By MARY GROW

Correspondent

Augusta,ME

CHINA -- Sharron Carey says there's a mold problem at China Middle

School.

School Committee Chairman agrees there's probably mold

in the building, but said neither he nor Principal Beale is

aware of a problem.

" Any old building in the state of Maine has got mold in it,

especially public buildings, because they don't get maintained

before the roof starts leaking, " said.

The earliest section of China Middle School opened in the spring of

1949. Other sections date from the 1950s and 1960s. The basement

under the original building is notoriously wet.

Carey, whose son is in seventh grade, said two years ago a teacher

showed her mold in a supply cupboard. Money was appropriated for

remedies, she said, but she calls the repairs " a Band-Aid that has

failed. "

Carey said she knows there are still mold spores because people who

have been in the school -- whom she declined to name -- have told

her so.

She said students and teachers are being sickened by mold, but their

illnesses are blamed on upper respiratory infections or other

allergies.

Beale said there are always some students and teachers out sick, but

she is not aware of an unusual number. She said neither Carey nor

any other parent has talked with her about a mold problem.

Carey raised the issue at the Oct. 13 School Committee meeting after

officials had ended noon recess for seventh- and eighth-graders.

That seemed to Carey to increase the possibility of sickening

children by limiting their time in fresh air.

The School Committee appeared to brush off the issue, Carey said --

but she said she remains hopeful something would be done.

Beale and said something is being done right now, but not

because of mold. After mid-October rain flooded the old basement, it

is being gutted, with carpeting and wood flooring taken up and

wallboard pulled out.

The work is being done evenings and weekends while students are not

in the building, and should be finished in a few days, Beale said.

A more thorough and permanent solution, said, depends on

whether officials decide to renovate the middle school; try to build

a new K-8 school or consider other options. School Committee members

and School Union 52 officials have been exploring renovation or a

new building for more than a year.

reported two developments at a recent discussion with town

officials and architect Blatt of Portland. He said it now

appears that a larger building on the primary school site could meet

requirements of China's Phosphorus Control Ordinance, with

engineered run-off controls.

And, Blatt raised the possibility of China and Winslow building a

combined junior high school. Each town has deficiencies in its

present building, and with the state's emphasis on consolidation, a

combined school might get more generous state funding.

The combined-school proposal was only discussed in the informal

meeting. It has not been presented to either China's or Winslow's

school committee, said.

China School Committee members have scheduled a public meeting for 7

p.m. Nov. 10, at the middle school.