Teachers, parents stay away from Daufuskie classroom tainted by mold

[Guest guest]

Teachers, parents stay away from Daufuskie classroom tainted by mold

Hilton Head Island Packet - Hilton Head Island,SC*

By PETER FROST

pfrost@...

843-706-8169

Friday, August 24, 2007

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/6634096p-5910102c.html

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND -- Parents and teachers concerned about mold at

Daufuskie Island Elementary aren't going to classes today, despite

the school district's assertion that lessons should go on in the

library next door.

After teachers discovered last week at least three types of mold

behind a bookshelf and in a closet, the district ordered the two

classrooms closed.

School officials say a leaky air conditioner caused high

concentrations of mold to grow behind the walls and under the floor.

On Aug. 15, classes were moved to the school's library, housed in a

building steps away from the main building.

The 18 students enrolled in the school returned to their classrooms

Monday and remained there until Thursday, parents and teachers said,

when the district again moved children into the library so workers

could repair and clean the area.

But mold was found in the library, as well, making that building

unsafe for students, said parents and teachers.

" We're all extremely concerned, " said Kathleen Lofton, who pulled

her two students out of school Thursday. " No one is going to send

their kids back until the district does what it said it was going to

do. "

The mold, said district spokesman , is isolated to the

area near the malfunctioning air conditioner, and there's no reason

to believe there is any contamination in the library.

In a release sent to teachers late Wednesday, the district said it

would replace the air conditioner, repair and replace portions of

the wall and floor, and perform an anti-microbial wipe-down of the

classrooms.

But parents and teachers said that as of Thursday evening, they've

been the only ones doing any cleaning. They said a teacher had to

buy disinfectant and cleaning equipment.

The district, they said, hasn't clearly communicated the problems.

" We're all really upset that we were not informed about any details

whatsoever about what's going on at the school, " said Helmuth,

whose daughter, , is a student there. " Until we feel like we're

fully informed, there's no point in taking the risk with our

children's health. "

acknowledged the district " could have made a more concerted

effort to contact parents directly. "

He said the district is spending $10,000 on repairs, and a

contractor will work today on cleaning.

Results are due today on air quality tests.

Students should be able to return to their classrooms early next

week, he said.

" We're not closing the school down, and we have a contingency plan

in place with using the library, " said. " We feel it's safe.

Employees are expected to report to their workstations. Period. "