Inspectors find mold in 3 Liberty schools

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December 09, 2005

Inspectors find mold in 3 Liberty schools

Health problems in the schools

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/12/09/news-hymold-12-

09.html

By Yakin

Times Herald-Record

hyakin@...

Liberty - Persistent leaks, mold growing on murals, rotted wood -

these are just a few of the things that the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health found at Liberty's schools.

In all three schools, NIOSH investigators found places where water

was seeping - and in some cases, running - into the structures.

NIOSH also found a pattern of health problems, including sore

throats, headaches and numbness among teachers.

For longtime middle school librarian Page, the findings

weren't a surprise. She is currently on worker's compensation leave

because of neurotoxic poisoning from mold in the library. Serious

leaks from the ceiling sent water down onto the shelves and books. A

tarp that has been rigged up for years, funneling runoff into

buckets, was photographed in the report.

" I've dumped buckets for 13 years, " she said.

And that's just one room.

NIOSH inspectors found some visible mold and active leaks in the

middle school, and signs of leaks in the other two schools. Liberty

Superintendent Lawrence e said the district started moving to

correct problems, even before NIOSH visited the schools in June at

the teachers' request for a health hazard evaluation.

A major renovation of the middle school is scheduled to start in the

spring. The district started planning the repairs after a 2004

architectural review of the building cataloged the leaks.

" We want to get these things addressed and fixed so we can move on, "

e said.

NIOSH found that the middle school was " very clean and well kept, "

and that many repairs had been done to try to fix the leak problems

since the school was built in 1991. But NIOSH noted tarps and

buckets in the library, containers on windowsills to catch leaks,

and similar problems.

Teachers reported migraines, watery eyes, sore throats and coughs.

All can be symptoms of moldy or damp environs, NIOSH said.

Page said she's heard of students and teachers who have symptoms

similar to what she experienced in 2004 before her immune system

buckled under a cascade of reactions to what her doctor said was

long-term exposure to molds.

Page's exposure was intense. She worked full time in the middle

school library, where the leaks triggered mold growth on books,

shelves and carpeting.

She wants the school to monitor symptoms that could be caused by

mold or dampness, like asthma or bronchitis. And she wants the

district to make sure the problems are fixed insteading of slapping

on a new roof.

" I want nobody to go through what I have, " Page said.

e said NIOSH's findings will be discussed at Monday's school

board meeting.

" We as a district have been throwing money at this for years, "

e said. " And it's time to do it right. "