Mold outbreak puts kids in new school for year

[Guest guest]

Mold outbreak puts kids in new school for year

Posted on Wed, Aug. 22, 2007

By MATT FRAZIER

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/209918.html

A temporary wall at Bryson Elementary School separates the third-grade wing,

which has been infested with black mold, from the rest of the school.

FORT WORTH -- Black mold has Bryson Elementary School's entire third grade --

teachers and students -- fleeing to the new Comanche Springs Elementary School

for the school year.

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw school district discovered Stachybotrys chartarum --a

black-green fungus known as black mold -- earlier this month in a wing of six

classrooms that had been added onto Bryson in 1991.

Because Bryson is at capacity, its third-graders are moving about two miles

northeast to Comanche Springs when classes start next week.

" We're lucky they caught it, and there is room in the new school for our

children, " parent Glenn Hawley said. " It could be a lot worse. "

District officials sent notification letters to all Bryson students last week.

They discussed the move with about 200 parents and students Monday night in the

Comanche Springs gym.

Parents were told that the district will use three buses to take the Bryson

students to Comanche Springs, and that their brothers and sisters can come

along.

" It's great. Everything is new, " said Weaver, 8, one of about 130

third-graders being transferred. But with a show of loyalty to Bryson, he added,

" They are both equal. "

Maintenance workers put up a temporary wall Tuesday morning to block the

mold-infested wing from the rest of the school.

Stachybotrys is suspected in rare cases of causing serious conditions, including

pulmonary hemorrhaging.

Others dealing with the mold in the area include the Kennedale Fire Department

in 2006; the Arlington school district in 2002; and the Birdville school

district in 1998.

Is the rest of Bryson Elementary safe?

Air quality samples from adjacent areas are coming back clean. The mold is in an

addition that is separate from the main building. Each room has its own heating

and air conditioning units, so no air is exchanged.

Why are we finding out about this now?

An air quality test at the beginning of August revealed the mold. Officials

believed they could get rid of it by next Monday, the first day of school. But

when interior walls were removed during the second week of August, workers

discovered that the mold infestation was more extensive.

How did this happen?

The airspace between a vapor barrier and the exterior masonry was not wide

enough for water to drain properly. Heavy rains throughout late spring and early

summer also contributed to the problem, as did a lack of air conditioning over

the summer, when the heating and air conditioning units were replaced.

How long will the cleaning process take? How much will it cost?

Cleanup is expected to be finished in time for the 2008-09 school year. At a

Monday night meeting of district trustees, officials said they didn't know how

much the job will cost but planned to seek bids. State law requires that

districts get bids on jobs that cost more than $25,000.

Will transportation be offered?

Transportation to Comanche Springs will be provided for all affected students,

but parents must hand in a transportation request form to that school's

principal, Caldwell by 4:30 p.m. today.

Won't this separate siblings?

Brothers and sisters of Bryson's third-grade students can move to Comanche

Springs, but parents must hand in a transfer request form to the district's

human resources department by 4:30 p.m. today.

Isn't this going to make Comanche Springs overcrowded?

Comanche Springs was scheduled to open this year with about 500 students. The

addition of the six third-grade classes and siblings requesting a transfer will

bring enrollment to about 650 students. That's well below the campus'

830-student capacity.

Will classes taught by other teachers be affected?

Students will receive physical education, music, art and computer classes at

Comanche Springs as they would at Bryson.

Can students still get after-school care?

The YMCA offers the same after-school care program at Comanche Springs as it

does at Bryson.

Can the transferred students stay at Comanche Springs next year?

It depends on where they live and where the district draws next year's

elementary attendance zones. As many as three new elementary schools may open

for 2008-09, dramatically changing where students go to school.

Black mold

Stachybotrys chartarum, a black-green fungus, grows on surfaces including

fiberboard, paper, dust and lint -- usually in the presence of moisture from

humidity, leaks, condensation or flooding. Exposure can cause:

Nasal stuffiness

Eye and skin irritation

Wheezing and shortness of breath Fever

Source: Star-Telegram archives

For more information

Bryson Principal Sheryl Sutherland, 817-237-8306.

Comanche Springs Principal Caldwell, 817-847-8700.

District spokeswoman Escovedo, 817-232-0880 ext. 240 or

kescovedo@....

mfrazier@...

Matt Frazier, 817-390-7957

---------------------------------

Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.

[Guest guest]

We all know that it can cause far more serious problems than just the four

listed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue

Stachybotrys chartarum, a black-green fungus, grows on surfaces including

fiberboard, paper, dust and lint -- usually in the presence of moisture from

humidity, leaks, condensation or flooding. Exposure can cause:

Nasal stuffiness

Eye and skin irritation

Wheezing and shortness of breath Fever

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour