McKinley Elementary School Closed - Parents Protest Delay

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Mold-ridden school closed Hundreds of parents protest Fairfield delays

October 19, 2000

By ANDREW BROPHY

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FAIRFIELD -- Plagued by air quality problems believed responsible for two

students' hospitalization and many sicknesses, McKinley Elementary School

was closed indefinitely Wednesday night.

McKinley will not be reopened until a team of doctors from the University of

Connecticut Medical Center and members of the Group, a Maine company

that specializes in building science, figure out how to rid the school of

high mold spore levels.

The decision came after nearly 400 people turned out at a meeting in Ludlowe

Middle School, many protesting how the air quality crisis has been handled.

Many angry parents Wednesday blasted the Board of Education and, in

particular, Supt. of Schools Carol Harrington for delays in closing the

school.

Dr. Eileen Storey of UConn said McKinley has " mold that is beyond what we

want to see. " She said it was still unclear how dangerous the mold is but

added the school had to be closed and cleaned.

Dr. DeBernardo said toxic molds were dangerous in high quantities.

" To cause a problem, mold has to be grown in very high quantity growing all

over the walls and ceiling, " he said. " So far, there's no evidence for

toxicity for mold in this building. "

Beginning Monday, McKinley students will be going to these elementary

schools: Holland Hill, kindergartners; Jennings, first-graders; Stratfield,

second-graders; Riverfield, third-graders; North Stratfield, fourth-graders;

and Osborn Hill, fifth-graders. McKinley students will have no classes today

and Friday.

Buses will pick students up at their houses at the usual times and take them

to McKinley's parking lot, where larger buses will take each class to its

respective school. The process will be reversed at the end of the school

day.

The McKinley students will stay together as a group in each elementary

school and their teachers and paraprofessionals will remain the same.

" This afternoon, we had a meeting with the receiving principals. They are

extremely supportive of this plan, " said Fagan, assistant

superintendent of schools.

Fagan said art and music rooms in the other elementary schools will be

opened up as classrooms.

Board of Education Chairman Madeo said school officials won't know

until next week how long McKinley will be closed. He said a cleaning plan

has to be developed before that can be known.

Numerous angry parents spoke up during the three-hour meeting, which at

times verged on being out of control.

Steve Fidenzato, who has three children at McKinley, was furious at

Harrington for allowing children into class Wednesday without knowing that

the building was safe. He called for Harrington's resignation.

Several parents, who have fought to close McKinley because of widespread

illnesses, said they would direct their efforts toward removing Harrington

as superintendent.

Some also cited an Oct. 11 fire department inspection report detailing 27

fire code violations at McKinley. All of those violations date back at least

three years.

Doreen Caruso, who has a fourth-grader at McKinley, asked why it took so

long to bring in health experts when there was evidence of the building's

air quality problems -- found in teachers' and students' illnesses -- six

weeks ago.

Brophy, who covers Fairfield, can be reached at 330-6255.