Parents say Knox Co. elementary school is making students sick

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Parents say Knox Co. elementary school is making students sick

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" Since day one, since kindergarten, she's been sick with allergies,

asthma, coughs, you name it. She's had it. It's the mold. I have

proof. I have five, six years of proof, " Angie says.

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March 18, 2006

Knoxville,TN

By MELISSA DiPANE

6 News Reporter

KNOX COUNTY (WATE) -- More parents are coming forward about mold

conditions at Elementary School.

The school is more than 70-years-old and parents have complained to

Knox County schools about mold and asbestos issues before.

Now, one mother claims the school is making her daughter sick.

Nine-year-old Shellby has been sick since she started

kindergarten at Elementary School.

Her mother, Angie , says the school is to blame.

" Since day one, since kindergarten, she's been sick with allergies,

asthma, coughs, you name it. She's had it. It's the mold. I have

proof. I have five, six years of proof, " says.

Shellby wasn't the first student to get sick.

A number of other parents tell 6 News their kids have had similar

symptoms while attending .

" My son went to school here 10 years ago and he had the same

symptoms, " says Lucy . " Over the summer, he was completely

well. The next school year, it was the same thing. "

Shellby is better now. She's been out of school recooperating for

almost two weeks. But soon, she will have to go back.

Knox County schools has denied recently that Elementary has

had any current issues with mold.

Parents disagree. They say they've been after the school to clean up

its act or build a new, clean school. But their pleas have gone

unanswered.

" We feel the school board is not doing what they should be doing to

get us a new school, " Belinda says.

" People are having to pull their kids out, having to home school

them because they're sick. If we don't speak up for our children,

who will speak up for our child? " Regina Underwood says.

Because of the school's age, parents want a new school. However,

Elementary is not on the list for proposed improvements in

the school board's capital plan.

The parent-teacher organization or PTO has been trying to get a

committee together to fight for a new school. Parents say they're

tax payers just like everyone else in the county. They shouldn't

have to fight.

Knox County schools spokesman Russ Oaks did not return calls from 6

News for a comment.

Parents in this story are looking to hear from other parents

concerned about conditions at Elementary.

They can be contacted at bhdknoxx@....