Fairfield parents await McKinley test result

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Fairfield parents await McKinley test result

October 20, 2000

By ANDREW BROPHY

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FAIRFIELD -- While medical and engineering teams tour McKinley Elementary

School -- closed indefinitely Wednesday night because of mold problems --

school officials and angry parents await a final analysis of the threat

posed to students' health.

Major, an inspector for the state Division of Occupational Safety

and Health, said her final report -- which will include more air-quality

test results and recommendations on how to proceed -- should be finished

next week.

And besides the mold problems, it came to light this week that the town's

oldest elementary school has 27 fire code violations -- all of which were

discovered and reported to the Board of Education more than three years ago.

Today, McKinley will be closed a second day as testing proceeds and students

will not attend classes. The school will remain closed indefinitely,

officials said.

Beginning Monday, McKinley kindergartners will go to Holland Hill School,

first-graders to Jennings School, second-graders to Stratfield School,

third-graders to Riverfield School, fourth-graders to North Stratfield

School and fifth-graders to Osborn Hill School.

Angry parents late Wednesday denounced the Board of Education -- and, in

particular, Supt. of Schools Carol Harrington -- for keeping McKinley open

without knowing whether it was safe for their children.

Since the school year started, mold in McKinley is believed to be

responsible for the hospitalization of two students and dozens more becoming

ill.

Steve Fidenzato, who has a kindergartner, third- and fifth-grader in

McKinley, was particularly incensed that Harrington did not close McKinley

on Wednesday -- after already deciding to close the school Thursday and

today.

He called on Harrington to resign and asked Board of Education Chairman

Madeo, whose board would have to make that decision, for his support.

However, Madeo said, " I respectfully disagree with your opinion of her

performance. "

McKinley parent Steve Boudreau said school officials need to meet with

parents to discuss how McKinley's air-quality crisis was handled.

" This is something we need to address, " he said. " This group of parents is

not going to let this go away. "

When students first began getting sick at McKinley, the Board of Education

hired AMC Technology of Stratford to perform air-quality tests. Based on

AMC's recommendations, parts of the school were closed.

The state occupational health division was later brought in to perform more

air quality tests.

Dr. DeBernardo of the University of Connecticut Medical Center, a

member of the medical team now working on McKinley's mold problems, said

illnesses associated with mold at the school were primarily allergic

reactions. He believes there is no evidence of toxicity.

DeBernardo said toxic molds -- spores of which were discovered in a hallway

outside a McKinley classroom -- have to grow in very high quantities to

cause toxicity.

The school board did not contact parents about whether doctors believe

McKinley was safe until Wednesday night -- after parents decided on their

own to consult Dr. Santilli, director of St. 's Medical Center's

Division of Allergy and Immunology.

Santilli, who reviewed the state's first report detailing mold spore levels

in McKinley, said Monday that the school should be closed.

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