School works to clear mold

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School works to clear mold

Weakley Co. school to continue next week, this summer to end mold

problem

The Sun, TN*

BY TYRONE TONY REED JR.

ttreed@...

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080206/NEWS01/802060315

The Weakley County Board of Education said that it has already made

corrections in areas inside Westview High School that have been

identified to have mold and that it will be taking further steps to

remediate the entire school next week and this summer, according to

Amber , a Memphis attorney.

, who represents plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against the

Board, said that the announcement was made by Pannu, a

Nashville attorney who represents the Board, during a hearing on

Monday.

" He said that they worked from 3 p.m. (Monday) to 6 a.m. (Tuesday)

to immediately remove areas we identified, " said.

Pannu could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Monday's hearing was concerning a temporary restraining order and

temporary injunction to prevent Westview High from being used as a

school until it is free from mold contamination.

The injunction was requested in a lawsuit, filed in December, by

Carol Hinman, the mother of and Dominique Pochop, who attend

Westview High School. Hinman's children have tested positive for

mold exposure and have been suffering many symptoms, according to

the lawsuit.

The first lawsuit filed by Caleb Joost and his parents, and

, said school officials have neglected to handle a mold problem

that has persisted for years and has affected their son's health

since November 2004.

The Joosts said their son began experiencing 26 symptoms that he

never had before - such as respiratory infections, sinus infections,

ear infections, skin infections and vomiting.

The Joosts were requesting in the lawsuit that a permanent

injunction be ordered against the school to discontinue classes at

the location until proof is provided that the building is free of

toxic mold.

According to preliminary laboratory reports filed in support of the

injunction, some areas in Westview High tested positive for mold a

week ago. While some spots had very light growth of mold, others had

very heavy growth of mold.

said that Weakley County Circuit Court Judge B.

Acree Jr. recommended that the Board have a full-blown inspection,

done by experts and professionals, conducted on Westview High from

Feb. 14 to Feb. 18.

" They are supposed to provide temporary remediation on visible mold

growth at that time, " said.

The Board is also expected to conduct a full-blown remediation of

the school during the summer and a mechanical engineer will search

for the causes of the mold so they can be fixed.

and Pannu will draft the agreed order and present it to

Acree some time this week.

said that Hinman's children will not be going back to the

school, but the Board will provide an alternative way for them to

get their education, per the order.

" Carol is grateful that her children don't have to go back to the

school until it is free of mold, " said. " Caleb Joosts no

longer goes to the school. The Joosts never wanted to file a

lawsuit. All they wanted was remediation. "

Middle School was also included in the preliminary laboratory

reports filed in support of the injunction.

said that while the Board has already contained the boy's

locker room and the boiler room, it will wait until a full, detailed

analysis is provided on Saturday before continuing remediation of

the school.

said that a hearing on the school will be held on Feb. 15.

An injunction hearing was held in January and was continued to April

21. said that the date is still available in case things

don't go as planned.

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- Tyrone Tony Jr.,

425-9758