Jensen school moves to clear the air

[Guest guest]

To our IAQ experts, I didn't know that mold spores dies within 48

hours. Hmmm, I wonder where this " gentlemen " got his training and

what planet he is from.

Jensen school moves to clear the air

Fort Pierce Tribune - Fort Pierce,FL

By KELLY TYKO

kelly.tyko@...

January 27, 2007

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5308852

,00.html

JENSEN BEACH — School officials don't know whether mold ever lived

behind the bookcase in an empty Jensen Beach Elementary classroom,

but on Friday a patch of damaged drywall was removed and replaced.

With students off for a teachers' workday and teachers in training

sessions, new air handlers were installed in six classrooms and

cabinets were removed from some classrooms in the first- and second-

grade wing of the school.

The damaged drywall was found behind a bookcase that was bolted to

the wall in classroom 67, which is not being used because a teacher

was concerned over the room's air quality, County School

District spokeswoman Brennan said.

" We care what it is, but we don't test it specifically for mold. As

soon as we see it, we remove it, " Brennan said. " We're looking for

excess moisture to see if there are any conditions for mold to

grow. "

Those conditions weren't found Friday, according to a report by the

County Health Department. The district invited the health

department to tour the wing of classrooms to check the current

condition because it was being proactive, Brennan said.

Last week, the district brought in independent air quality company

United Fire & Water, who didn't find any moisture yet noted a few

stained ceiling tiles in its report. Brennan said the company

reinspected the school again Friday, didn't find any moisture and

found the damaged drywall tested within normal ranges.

However, one mold expert said just because moisture wasn't found, it

doesn't mean mold isn't there.

" It's everywhere and you can't always see it. They (mold spores) are

microscopic in size and floating around in the air, " said Steve

Metz, owner of Metz Environmental, a local company that does mold

testing, inspections and cleanups. " I'd almost bet money that every

school in the state of Florida probably has one room or one building

that has a problem. "

Metz said he's never done consulting work for the County

School District, but said he has received numerous calls from

parents and teachers in the district.

" I've had tons of parents call me over the years that say my kid is

sick from the first day of school until Christmas break and they get

better, " he said. " Then they return to school and the symptoms come

back. "

Thousands of species of mold exist and most healthy people don't

have any reaction to them.

" It's been around longer than humans. It's just a naturally

occurring thing that's out there. That's why a lot of people get

allergies, " said Mark Cocco, the school district's operations

manager, who is also a certified indoor air quality professional.

" When you walk into a room, mold can come off your shoes, or your

pants, your hair, " Cocco said. " But if the conditions for mold to

grow are not in the room, those mold spores will die within 48

hours. As long as we're keeping the atmosphere dry, it will not

grow. "

The air handlers — the indoor units of an air conditioner that

circulate air — were replaced because it didn't appear they would

continue working through the end of the school year, Brennan said.

Over the summer, the entire air conditioning system will be

replaced, which was previously planned.

Small issues noted in the health department's report were a lot of

dust, and the scents from air fresheners, which Cocco said the

district asks teachers not to use because they can " also cause

people to react, especially asthmatic people or people with

allergies. "

If parents have concerns about their child's school, they should

first contact the school's principal, advises Brennan,

spokeswoman for the County School District. Or they can

contact school district headquarters at (772) 219-1200.

MOLD DANGERS

While mold hasn't been identified as a problem at Jensen Beach

Elementary, here are some of the dangers of mold, according to a

report " Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings " done

by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

• Mold can grow anywhere there is oxygen and moisture. Spores are

naturally present indoors and outdoors.

• All molds have the potential to cause health problems, including

allergic reactions or asthma attacks.

• Molds can produce toxins and/or irritants that can lead to

breathing difficulties; skin irritation; a burning in the eyes,

nose, throat and lungs; or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a rare

condition resembling bacterial pneumonia that affects the lungs.

'

[Guest guest]

Just want to make sure I got this correct. Surely I didn't.

They found mold on a piece of drywall at this school correct? Then they

replaced the air handlers in 6 classrooms? They don't test because mold can

come in on your shoes? So instead they asked that people not wear perfume?

Now if there wasn't a problem why in the heck replace any air handlers? The not

wearing perfume and scented stuff to school is a wonderful idea, but I would

think mold would be the bigger issue.

I think they know they have a huge problem w/mold. Just don't want to step up

and test because parents and teachers have been mentioning it for years. If

they did find mold they might have some bigger problems.

Once again to me it's not the kids that are the important thing here. It is the

district and it's budget. Forget the health of the children and teachers.

Wish I could talk to these people. I'd love to tell them how to force the

school to test. Those poor kids.

Sorry for venting a bit. It just brings back memories of when I had to go up

against our district. But, it was all worth it. Kids and teachers are safe. I

gets easier every year.

[] Jensen school moves to clear the air

To our IAQ experts, I didn't know that mold spores dies within 48

hours. Hmmm, I wonder where this " gentlemen " got his training and

what planet he is from.

Jensen school moves to clear the air

Fort Pierce Tribune - Fort Pierce,FL

By KELLY TYKO

kelly.tyko@...

January 27, 2007

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5308852

,00.html

JENSEN BEACH - School officials don't know whether mold ever lived

behind the bookcase in an empty Jensen Beach Elementary classroom,

but on Friday a patch of damaged drywall was removed and replaced.

With students off for a teachers' workday and teachers in training

sessions, new air handlers were installed in six classrooms and

cabinets were removed from some classrooms in the first- and second-

grade wing of the school.

The damaged drywall was found behind a bookcase that was bolted to

the wall in classroom 67, which is not being used because a teacher

was concerned over the room's air quality, County School

District spokeswoman Brennan said.

" We care what it is, but we don't test it specifically for mold. As

soon as we see it, we remove it, " Brennan said. " We're looking for

excess moisture to see if there are any conditions for mold to

grow. "

Those conditions weren't found Friday, according to a report by the

County Health Department. The district invited the health

department to tour the wing of classrooms to check the current

condition because it was being proactive, Brennan said.

Last week, the district brought in independent air quality company

United Fire & Water, who didn't find any moisture yet noted a few

stained ceiling tiles in its report. Brennan said the company

reinspected the school again Friday, didn't find any moisture and

found the damaged drywall tested within normal ranges.

However, one mold expert said just because moisture wasn't found, it

doesn't mean mold isn't there.

" It's everywhere and you can't always see it. They (mold spores) are

microscopic in size and floating around in the air, " said Steve

Metz, owner of Metz Environmental, a local company that does mold

testing, inspections and cleanups. " I'd almost bet money that every

school in the state of Florida probably has one room or one building

that has a problem. "

Metz said he's never done consulting work for the County

School District, but said he has received numerous calls from

parents and teachers in the district.

" I've had tons of parents call me over the years that say my kid is

sick from the first day of school until Christmas break and they get

better, " he said. " Then they return to school and the symptoms come

back. "

Thousands of species of mold exist and most healthy people don't

have any reaction to them.

" It's been around longer than humans. It's just a naturally

occurring thing that's out there. That's why a lot of people get

allergies, " said Mark Cocco, the school district's operations

manager, who is also a certified indoor air quality professional.

" When you walk into a room, mold can come off your shoes, or your

pants, your hair, " Cocco said. " But if the conditions for mold to

grow are not in the room, those mold spores will die within 48

hours. As long as we're keeping the atmosphere dry, it will not

grow. "

The air handlers - the indoor units of an air conditioner that

circulate air - were replaced because it didn't appear they would

continue working through the end of the school year, Brennan said.

Over the summer, the entire air conditioning system will be

replaced, which was previously planned.

Small issues noted in the health department's report were a lot of

dust, and the scents from air fresheners, which Cocco said the

district asks teachers not to use because they can " also cause

people to react, especially asthmatic people or people with

allergies. "

If parents have concerns about their child's school, they should

first contact the school's principal, advises Brennan,

spokeswoman for the County School District. Or they can

contact school district headquarters at (772) 219-1200.

MOLD DANGERS

While mold hasn't been identified as a problem at Jensen Beach

Elementary, here are some of the dangers of mold, according to a

report " Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings " done

by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

. Mold can grow anywhere there is oxygen and moisture. Spores are

naturally present indoors and outdoors.

. All molds have the potential to cause health problems, including

allergic reactions or asthma attacks.

. Molds can produce toxins and/or irritants that can lead to

breathing difficulties; skin irritation; a burning in the eyes,

nose, throat and lungs; or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a rare

condition resembling bacterial pneumonia that affects the lungs.

'