Clerical Error” Led to KHS Students in Mold Classrooms

[Guest guest]

" Clerical Error " Led to KHS Students in Mold Classrooms

Westport Now - Westport,CT*

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/comments/18796/

The head of the committee looking into air quality issues at

Westport's King's Highway Elementary School said today a " clerical

error " led to students being allowed into two modular classrooms

where mold had been found before suspected ceiling tiles were

removed.

Parents raised questions about KHS modular classrooms. (CLICK TO

ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In a statement, Gavin said over the last week, parents had

raised a number of questions about the opening and closing of the

classrooms at the school where he told the Board of Education in

September that mold had been detected. (See WestportNow Sept. 10,

2007)

" Their concerns stem from the fact that students used these spaces

for music classes for five days (from Nov. 26 to 30) despite the

fact that final remediation work-- replacement of ceiling tiles--

had not been completed in accordance with the accepted

recommendations of the KHS Special Maintenance Committee, " he said.

" This was found to have been due to a clerical error in the

committee's final recommendations, which omitted a clause calling

for the removal of ceiling tiles for these areas. All other

recommendations were acted upon. "

said exposure to individual students " was minimal and in a

manner that is not considered likely to be harmful. " He noted that

the same students do not occupy the space for the entire day or for

extended periods.

Additionally, most of the students used the northern room where test

results were satisfactory. Testing in the southern classroom had

shown " elevated readings, " he said.

Also, because the access doors open and close directly to the

outside of the building, reasonably good exterior air quality and

circulation had been maintained, said.

" These factors serve to mitigate individual student exposure to

whatever levels of airborne contaminants might have been present

during these times, " he said.

Ceiling tiles were replaced on Saturday, said. However,

both classrooms were again closed on Monday to determine the reason

for the elevated reading, he said.

" The situation is being addressed with urgency and these spaces will

be reopened as soon as possible, " said.

" It is worth noting that the school maintenance division has

responded quickly and efficiently to countless repair and

remediation needs at the school throughout last three months, and a

great deal of positive work has been completed. "

added that his committee " continues to work closely with

the school district administration considering and developing many

new ideas and possible improvements to maintenance management

systems and practices with potential for future application. "

He said discussions concerning the future role of the Town

Maintenance Committee in following up with this work are also well

advanced.