School tests reveal moisture, not mold

October 20, 2007

A leak near a door at Westchase Elementary is condensation, not

another mold problem.

St. sburg Times - St. sburg,FL*

By RODNEY THRASH, Times Staff Writer

Published October 18, 2007

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WESTCHASE - Moisture found in a Westchase Elementary classroom on

Friday was not harmful mold, air quality tests released this week

showed.

" We have no issues, " said Hegarty, a Hillsborough County

schools spokesman.

On Friday, Westchase administrators discovered a leak near the door

of a portable that housed 18 second-graders. They moved the students

to the school's media center and sent a letter to parents.

Principal Joyce Wieland said the school suspected all along it was

condensation from the air-conditioning system, " but wanted experts

to come out " and confirm it. " Better safe than sorry, " she said.

Since its January 1999 opening, Westchase has been plagued with leak

and drainage problems due to construction and design defects.

In 2004, the northwest Hillsborough school was the subject of an

WFTS-Ch. 28 investigation into toxic mold at the school. Some

parents complained their children had respiratory problems during

the school year, but district officials maintained the mold did not

pose a health threat to students.

Later that year, the district spent $500,000 rebalancing air

conditioners, installing new windows, dehumidifying select

classrooms and repairing the roof. Administrators hailed the

improvements as the end of the school's woes.

While the latest test results seem to clear the way for students to

return to the classroom, Hegarty said not so fast. " We're going to

go look it over before we move anybody, " he said.

Still, Wieland said parents should not be alarmed by this

incident. " We're not. "

Rodney Thrash can be reached at 813 269-5303 or rthrash@....

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