Damp band instruments, not mold, blamed in damage

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Damp band instruments, not mold, blamed in damage

Beckley Register-Herald - Beckley,WV*

Mannix Porterfield

Register-Herald Reporter

http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_263221908.html

Instruments packed away for the summer break without being dried,

not mold caused by a leaky roof, was blamed Thursday by a school

authority for some damage at Summers County High.

A parent voiced concern that mold was caused by a faulty roof and

either ruined or damaged several pieces of equipment stored for the

summer in cabinets, destroying violins and other instruments, such

as a bass fiddle.

Schools Superintendent Vicki Hinerman said the matter was turned

over promptly to the state Department of Education's facilities

division and an investigation was conducted in the bandroom.

" The only thing he found was mold in the cases of the instruments, "

Hinerman said.

" His conclusion was that the instruments had probably been put away

damp and had been locked up all summer. That's what caused the mold.

He said there was no other mold in the building. "

While no official estimate has been put in writing, Hinerman quoted

a Kerr Music Co. representative as saying it would cost about

$30,000 to repair and clean the instruments.

" Those were concert instruments, " Hinerman said. " Not the

instruments that they use in the marching band for the football

team. "

There was no water damage, and the roof has been known to be a

source of leaks in the past, the superintendent said.

" We had some reports from three different parents that their

students were ill, but it was never determined that they were ill

from the mold, " Hinerman said.

" Parents were wondering about this, which is why we had it all

checked. "

— E-mail: mannix@

register-herald.com