Mold found in preschool

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Mold found in preschool

Amador Ledger-Dispatch - ,CA*

Friday, November 30, 2007

By Jenifer Gee

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=230584

A county environmental health inspection found mold on the floor

surface of the Head Start Preschool building, a floor that

has portions of linoleum missing and pieces of rug duct-taped over

the areas where the concrete is exposed.

It's a problem many parents have already identified to staff, but

with no answers and conditions remaining the same, parents'

frustrations have grown.

According to a Nov. 9 letter for the county Environmental Health

Department, Environmental Health Specialist Meyer wrote that a

Nov. 7 inspection of the building determined " it was apparent upon

inspection that mold was present under the floor surface. "

The letter was addressed to the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action

Agency, which lists the preschool as one of the services it offers.

The letter outlines how inspectors lifted portions of the vinyl

floor surface and found the building slab moist to touch.

" Not only does the moisture under the floor surface provide

favorable conditions for the mold growth but it appears to be

causing the lifting and peeling of the vinyl floor surface in

several locations, " according to Meyer's letter.

Meyer also explained at the time of inspection, the crew couldn't

inspect for mold inside the building walls because it would have

required removing several portions of drywall and baseboard.

For some of the parents who have children enrolled in the program,

the presence of mold is something they've voiced concern over to

site staff for longer than the three weeks since the inspection took

place. Although, as of Wednesday, there were no official complaints

of health problems as a result of the mold.

According to a Sutter Creek parent who asked to remain anonymous for

fear of retaliation, parents were told staff has no control over the

situation and its left in the hands of A-TCAA officials. She said

parents have not received any letters or official word from A-TCAA

about the problem.

" I know other people have children there but they're upset and

afraid to say anything because it's the only place they can put

their child, " said the parent, who currently has one child enrolled

at the school and has had other children enrolled over the past two

and a half years.

For those sections of floor peeled up, the solution has been to tape

various rugs over them, the parent said.

" They're duct-taping the floor with rug remnants and it's not a fix

for the moisture coming up from below, " she said.

The parent said the floor has been in a bad state since she started

taking her kids to the school, starting with discoloration

underneath the linoleum and over time, the seams have been splitting.

She said parents were told informally that repairs are expected to

be made this summer when the school closes for a week, but she is

concerned about how students and staff will handle the upcoming wet

weather that accompanies the winter months.

" If we get a lot of rain and moisture, what's going to happen with

the dampness in the rugs? That's going to mildew. Rugs are not

cleanable. You can't sanitize the floor now, " the parent said.

In Meyer's letter to A-TCAA, he closes with stating " visible mold

growing in the classroom should be considered a health risk and

controlled by eliminating the mold and conditions that support its

growth. " He included information from the state Department of Health

Services on molds and also gave the agency a list of private firms

that test for mold and other indoor air pollutants.

Meyer strongly recommended that the classroom in question be tested

but did not give a timeline as to when.

County Environmental Health Department Director Mike Israel said the

following statement about the mold found at the preschool, " We

performed a preliminary investigation. That investigation is not yet

complete. Work is underway to determine the best approach to

mitigate any mold related issues. "

As for any noticeable health effects to the children, the parent

said currently her child has a runny nose, much like the rest of the

children, but could not say whether or not that was caused because

of the presence of mold. She said she hopes the building can be

repaired soon.

" It's such a nice facility, " she said. " I hope they get the floors

fixed. "

A-TCAA officials did not return comment as of press time.