Mold reported at Gardiner school

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Mold reported at Gardiner school

Kennebec Journal - Augusta,ME

By KEITH EDWARDS

Staff Writer

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/3785375.html

GARDINER -- Indoor air quality testing found small amounts of mold

in a section of Gardiner Area High School but local officials do not

believe it poses an immediate health threat.

Air and swab samples were taken March 16 from areas of Gardiner Area

High School that apparently got wet due to faulty siding installed

on the school's 10-year-old technology wing.

Icon Environmental Consultants found one spot, above a first-floor

hall drop ceiling, where the newer wing of the building joins with

the older section, that had " a heavily abundant presence " of mold.

The Augusta-based company's report recommended that area be

addressed soon.

An examination also found water penetrated the siding, plywood and,

in some cases, insulation and drywall elsewhere.

Superintendent Knowles said the worst area has already been

sanitized with an anti-fungal spray and, overall, the tests did not

indicate the health of students or staff were at risk.

" We did find some mold on the plywood, which was not a surprise to

us, " Knowles said at a School Administrative District 11 board

meeting Thursday. " We found some things, but they are minimal.

Inside and outside, our air quality is good. There were no life-

safety issues. There is no immediacy at this point. "

Officials believe water leaked into the walls due to improperly

installed siding that one architect estimates would cost about

$610,000 to remove and replace.

SAD 11 is also looking for ways to pay for that work.

Some board members are hopeful, they said, that because the tests

indicated no immediate threats, so the district may have more time

to find funding.

If a bond issue approved by the Legislature recently is passed by

voters, it could free up Revolving Renovation Fund money for the job.

" Obviously it's good news if there are no life-safety issues, " said

Steve Hunnewell, a board member from West Gardiner elected earlier

in the meeting as vice chairman of the board.

Knowles said some plywood underneath the outside layer of siding was

wet even on a side of the school that representatives of the siding

manufacturer had observed and approved as their siding was

installed. The company that made the siding has blamed the

installer -- Granger Northern, which has since gone out of business.

In addition to Hunnewell's election as vice chairman of the board,

board members elected Dick , also of West Gardiner, as

chairman.

kedwards@...