Tests show 'minimal' mold problem at Saugerties school

[Guest guest]

Tests show 'minimal' mold problem at Saugerties school, district

says

Kingston Daily Freeman - Kingston,NY*

By Ariel Zangla, Freeman staff

09/09/2007

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=18798682 & BRD=1769 & PAG=461 & dept_id=74958 & rfi=6

MOUNT MARION - The results of an air quality test at Mount n

Elementary School show there is no danger from mold, Saugerties

school district Superintendent Rhau said.

Rhau said a qualified inspector from Ulster BOCES collected air

samples from the school cafeteria and storage areas. The samples

were sent to an independent lab for analysis, and results received

Tuesday showed minimal mold levels.

" We were basically told that we have no reason not to open school

and that we're fine, " Rhau said Friday.

Rhau said the air quality tests were ordered after concerns were

raised about mold in the cafeteria over the summer. He said someone

had gone into the building and taken their own samples to test. How

the samples were taken and what that person's qualifications were

are not known, Rhau added.

Those results showed that there was some mold in the area, but that

it was not dangerous, Rhau said.

The superintendent said the school is always cleaned before students

return to classes for the new year, and that the district's own

tests showed even lower levels of mold.

" The big thing to remember is that there are no standards for mold, "

he added.

Rhau said other districts have had much higher levels of mold in

some buildings and were able to open without problems for students

or staff.