'Facilities problems' halt classes at Tidwell

[Guest guest]

'Facilities problems' halt classes at Tidwell

Houston Chronicle

By ERICKA MELLON

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5184580.html

Parents of students at Tidwell Elementary School were called to pick

up their children this morning after officials decided to dismiss

classes because of " facilities problems. "

The school's principal said in a letter that classes will not resume

until Tuesday because of construction that is under way in the

building.

A teachers' union representative said, however, that she and many

others at Tidwell have seen mold in classrooms and have felt ill

since the school year began.

The campus, at 8000 Tidwell in northeast Houston, is in the North

Forest school district.

Although students came to class as usual today, parents received

phone calls later in the morning, telling them to pick their

children up.

Many parents who came to the campus expressed frustration and anger

because they had to leave work and were not being given clear

answers.

" I think it would be appropriate for them to tell the parents what

they know so we could get our kids' health checked out, " said

Lakeithia , who has three children attending Tidwell.

said she had to leave her job working in a hotel kitchen to

pick up her children. She said her children have been unusually

lethargic lately.

A teacher's aide at the school, Sweat, who is a representative

of the American Federation of Teachers, said mold is visible in

classrooms and about half of the school's staff has felt sick since

the school year started.

Sweat said she has had headaches, red eyes, a sore throat and

fatigue.

Nakisha Myles, spokeswoman for the North Forest district, denied

that today's dismissal was because of mold.

" They're just releasing (students) due to facilities problems, " she

said, refusing to elaborate.

In a letter addressed " To Whom It May Concern, " school principal

Phyllis wrote that, " due to construction in the building, "

school was being dismissed early today and classes will not be held

Thursday through Monday.

The complaints of illness recounted by Sweat are similar to those

reported by staff members at the Houston school district's Key

Middle School, a few miles from Tidwell. After numerous complaints

from teachers and other staff members, some of whom went to

hospitals in ambulances, the Houston district temporarily closed Key

for further tests.

The Key students are attending classes at nearby Fleming Middle

School while inspectors, including some from the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, analyze the findings of tests to determine

whether the illnesses were caused by mold or some other problem.

ericka.mellon@...