Mold forces classes to firehall

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Mold forces classes to firehall

Chambersburg Public Opinion - Chambersburg,PA*

By ROXANN MILLER For Public Opinion

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_6834108

On Friday about 175 St. Elementary students were moved to

temporary classrooms at the St. Volunteer Fire Company while

newly-discovered mold is being removed from a different part of the

elementary school.

St. Elementary School Principal Nadine said the

temporary classroom setup could be in place through next Thursday.

School officials became aware of the mold after a parent contacted

and a school nurse after the first day of school.

According to , she was contacted by a parent who was

concerned when her child had an asthma attack after returning home

at the end of the school day.

That parent asked if the mold had been removed from the school.

said the mold had been successfully removed from the pipe

insulation above the drop ceilings in the north wing - the newest

wing. INX Technology did the work in April and May. The mold

remediation cost approximately $16,900.

" We wanted to make sure that everything was safe for our students.

So, the maintenance and custodial staff, who had been trained over

the summer to inspect for mold, completed a visual inspection of the

old wing (the one the parent complained about) which has not been

treated for mold, " Dr. Erb, Tuscarora School District

Superintendent, said.

Analytical Laboratory Services, Inc., burg, then conducted air

quality testing of the area.

According to , ALS found that the air quality was not

hazardous but found that mold on the pipe insulation above the

ceiling tiles in the old (unremediated) wing.

From there, the maintenance and custodial staff completed a second

visual mold inspection of the entire building. Staff found 11

classrooms in the old (unremediated) wing contained mold on the

insulation above the ceiling tiles.

" Whenever condensation builds up on the pipes the moisture gets into

the insulation and causes mold to grow. Whenever they put new

insulation on the pipes in the new wing that was remediated last

spring, they used a product that was supposed to be resistant to

that, " said Erb. " I don't know if there's any guarantee that it

won't happen again. That's why we had our staff trained to inspect

for mold to keep the students safe in the future. "

ALS came in a second time to conduct more air testing. The

professionals found the air quality to be non-hazardous to students

and others occupying the space and found mold on the pipes.

The school board immediately approved awarding the bid to Tuckey's

Restoration, Inc., Carlisle for mold remediation. The work began on

Thursday at 5 p.m.

For the students still in the elementary school using classrooms not

being remediated, they are separated from the mold by closed doors

sealed with plastic.

For most of next school week, about 175 elementary children in

kindergarten and grades one, four and five will start their day in

the gym at the elementary school, return for lunch; and at the end

of the day to catch their school bus home. The majority of the day

will be spent at the fire station.

" We need to do something to thank them. They have been wonderful in

working with us over this cleanup, " said Erb referring to the staff

at the fire station.

said that other than the initial report from the parent of

the student who had an asthma attack, there have been no other

health issues related to the mold.

Parents whose children attend St. Elementary School have

received three letters updating them on the mold remediation at the

school.

(COMMENTS)

You would think there would be a solution to this problem. Isn't

about time this is fixed?

Dave | 09.08.07 - 8:06 am | #

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lies and more lies, if you don't care about your children's health

then send them to St , but don't be crying if they are sick or

in a few years, or twenty years develop life threatening illnesses.

Mold is nothing to play around with and this school has had mold for

over a decade and have lied many times to hide the facts or their

own inaction. More then a few parents have removed their children

from this school. So if your child becomes seriously ill, you can

blame no one but yourself because at this point everyone has been

warned.

Sam | 09.08.07 - 2:21 am | #

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