Suffolk teacher sues city over mold at school

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Suffolk teacher sues city over mold at school

Posted to: News Suffolk

The Virginian-Pilot - Norfolk,VA*

By Dave Forster

Hattie Brown Garrow

The Virginian-Pilot

© March 14, 2008

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/suffolk-teacher-sues-city-over-mold-

school

A fourth-grade teacher is suing the city because she says it failed

to address long-standing mold problems at her school that sickened

her, other teachers and students.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Suffolk Circuit Court, said exposure

to excess mold and bacteria at Booker T. Washington Elementary

School has caused severe rashes, allergic reactions and respiratory

problems.

The complaint accuses school and city officials of failing to remedy

a well-known problem. T eacher Cristina Hood seeks $2.5 million for

medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost earnings.

Superintendant Milton Liverman said as a matter of policy he would

not comment on the lawsuit.

" When we test our air, which we do on a regular basis, it meets

required standards, " he said Thursday night.

Suffolk Public Schools spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said complaints

of mold and air quality have " come up occasionally. " She wouldn't

say how recent the complaints were, which schools they involved or

who filed them.

A message left for Booker T. Washington Principal

Montgomery at the end of the school day was not returned.

City Attorney Ed Roettger hadn't seen the lawsuit yet, but after

hearing a brief description of it, he said it should name the

Suffolk School Board as the defendant, not the city.

" It's a school board matter, " he said.

In the complaint, Hood said she was hired last summer to teach about

25 students at the school. Her eyes began to itch within days of

beginning work, and by the second week she had developed nasal

congestion and a sore on her mouth. Soon she developed a severe face

rash.

On Sept. 19, the lawsuit maintains, Hood made an appointment with

her doctor. She went to the assistant principal,

, and told him she needed time off for the appointment and

didn't know why she was so sick, according to the lawsuit.

told Hood that " we know there is a mold problem and it

comes up through the ground in the summertime, " the complaint said.

could not be reached for comment.

Booker T. Washington is the oldest continuing operational school in

the city, according to the lawsuit. It was built in 1925 over an old

landfill site on slab construction, which is known to cause

foundation settling and leaks, the complaint said. Cracks have been

reported in the floors and walls, it said.

Hood began using a dehumidifier in her classroom. School officials

began having her floors cleaned once or twice a week and brought in

a mold inspection company that found the presence of mold, the

complaint said.

About 20 to 30 percent of Hood's students have had respiratory

problems, watery eyes, allergies, asthma, runny noses, headaches and

stomach issues, the complaint said.

Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@...