Lansdowne portables coming down

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Lansdowne portables coming down

Sarnia Observer - Sarnia,ON,Canada

Coad, Lindsey / The Observer

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Plans are in the works to tear down the mould-plagued portables at

Lansdowne Public School and replace them with a permanent addition.

" It's far better to get a permanent structure, " said Gayle Stucke,

education director for the Lambton Kent District School Board.

Older portables are more vulnerable to mould and the long-term goal

is to be rid of them across the district, she said.

Trustees were informed this week of plans to build a three-classroom

addition and convert the school's library into another two

classrooms. The library will be relocated to an all-purpose room.

Stucke said funding will come from reserves and money earmarked for

primary class caps.

The design and construction work will go to tender shortly.

It's expected the two rooms in the main building could be completed

over the summer and the addition ready by early 2008.

" We're happy to get that. It's been a really long battle, " parent

and school council member Vicki Elipani said after The Observer

informed her of the move.

But she questioned whether five rooms will be enough to accommodate

all the students from the portables.

The $1.5 million renovations won't officially be approved until

trustees vote on the capital budget next month.

Sarnia trustee Millman said dipping into reserves was

necessary.

" Reserves are for special occasions. This is an unexpected cost. We

have to deal with it, " he said. " We can't have people thinking that

our schools are unsafe. "

Frustrated parents have been calling for a new addition since mould

was found in March. More mould was found behind the walls in the

hallway last month after invasive testing was done at the request of

parents and staff.

Lansdowne students, who were temporarily moved to Devine Street,

have since returned to their portables after they were cleaned and

tested.

However, Elipani said she is still waiting to see air quality

results.

The new addition comes too late for parent Trish , whose

Grade 3 son developed a cough and has since moved to London Road

school.

" I've lost all faith with the whole issue because it's been going on

so long, " she said.

The board spent $100,000 in 2005 on repairs to eradicate the mould

problem.