Crockett Elementary - Lawrenceburg, TN

November 20, 2000

Air quality tests find no problem at Lawrence school

By Michele Gobbell / State Correspondent

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. -- Tests of air quality inside a Lawrenceburg elementary

school that was the subject of health complaints have turned up nothing

unusual, according to a recent report.

United Testing and Balancing Inc., reported finding no hazardous materials

in the air at Crockett Elementary School, where excess moisture has

been said to cause health problems with students and teachers.

Since Crockett opened three years ago, parents and teachers have reported

symptoms that they attributed to mold and other effects of high humidity.

Crockett teachers said paint would not dry and paper would crinkle because

of the extra moisture.

The company that designed the school's cooling unit reset its controls so

the fans would run continuously. In addition, staff members were asked to

keep thermostats at more constant temperatures to regulate the humidity.

A series of tests was performed recently to determine the quality of the

school's air. Those tests were done after the school year began because

officials wanted to check the air while the facility was at normal capacity.

A report released this week by United Testing said low levels of

contaminants were found in Crockett. However, company officials said, those

levels do not indicate a hazard to the school's occupants.

Comparison tests performed at two other elementary schools found the same

levels, according to the company. The ruling from United Testing is that

contaminants inside the three schools are natural to the area.

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