Districts Work To Prevent Mold In Classrooms

[Guest guest]

Districts Work To Prevent Mold In Classrooms

Reporting Darcy Pohland

WCCO - Minneapolis,MN*

http://wcco.com/local/classroom.mold.modular.2.411827.html

(WCCO) Possible mold problem in portable classrooms has parents

wondering if their children are safe.

After several students and teachers got sick in the St. Francis

school district, administrators investigated. They ripped off walls

in the classroom trailers and discovered what appears to be mounds

of mold; tests are underway.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District, the state's largest, has worked

for years to stop mold in schools. The district uses 98 portable

classrooms to accommodate a growing student population.

" To basically take the edge off our class size and not build

unnecessary facilities and keep a balance and they work very well

for us, " said Administrative Services Director Chuck Holden.

However, St. Francis School District found that they don't work well

when they become covered with what looks like mold.

" I've had two kids go through this school system. I wouldn't want

them in this classroom, " said St. Francis Services Director Tom

Larson.

The Anoka-Hennepin District can relate. Ten years ago Crooked Lake

Elementary closed for several months to clean up mild discovered in

the ceiling.

Since then, " on a regular basis we have building supervisors and

custodians checking for leaks or damage. And our buildings and

grounds department puts a notice out anytime there is severe

weather, " said Holden.

They use a special moisture detection device to find places where

mold could potentially grow.

" This one can test woods, wall surfaces, roofing material. I can set

it for a plaster wall, brick wall, sheet rock wall, " said Anoka-

Hennepin Maintenance Director Curt Maki. " You'd move this around the

wall looking for potential readings. "

If moisture is registered but not visible on the surface, they will

send a probe into the wall that will inspect the interior of the

wall space with a camera.

That way the damage can be assessed and fixed before potential mold

could grow.

" The health and well-being of our staff and students is of utmost

concerns, " said Holden.

The St. Francis school district tested for mold last week but that

was before the walls and floor boards were pulled up.

New tests will be conducted within the next few days which should be

more accurate.

Like Anoka-Hennepin, some other districts count on teachers and

staff to look out for any signs of moisture so maintenance staff can

fix the leak before the mold grows.