Company accuses school district of contributing to mold problem

November 8, 2007

KARE - Minneapolis,MN*

The Saint Francis School District has a new fight over a problem

that forced several classrooms to be shut down.

In October inspectors found mold growing under floors and behind

walls in 25 of its 32 portable classrooms - the district had to

abandon that class space.

ModSpace Corporation, the company that builds portable classrooms,

has now released a statement saying the St. Francis School District

is at least partly responsible for its current dilemma.

" There have been some modifications made to this building that

certainly led to some issues that the buildings are encountering

today, " said Bremer, the Senior VP of Operations at ModSpace

Corporation.

Bremer said the district's work on the heating and air conditioning

units added to the buildings' moisture and eventually, mold. Bremer

said the district also exacerbated the problem by cutting into the

walls.

" We always say don't cut into the buildings because if there's

something (inside the walls), you release it, " Bremer said.

District leaders say they've done what they needed to do to gauge

the problem and protect kids from an unhealthy environment.

" They can say whatever they want, but it's not a good idea to have

insulation soaked with water and then have electricity run through

the room, " said St. Francis Schools Superintendent Ed Saxton.

The company and district do agree they want the problem fixed as

quickly as possible.

" The biggest thing right now is to take care of that learning area

for the students, " Saxton said.

ModSpace representatives say they have a plan for getting kids back

in the portable classrooms by late December. But they say the

solution would be paid for by both the district and the company.

The school district is already reeling from a financial blow - on

Tuesday, the community voted down the district's operating levy.

By Karla Hult, KARE 11 News

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