Mold Closes KCMO School For Now

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Mold Closes KCMO School For Now

MyFox Kansas City - Kansas City,MO*

Monday, 18 Aug 2008

KANSAS CITY News

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?

contentId=7233806 & version=1 & locale=EN-US & layoutCode=TSTY & pageId=3.2.1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A huge backlash to what seemed like a minor

robbery.

Copper thieves took a couple of pipes from Knotts Elementary School

last summer.

And now school officials are moving students out of the building,

because of a possible health hazard!

After the district replaced the pipes, the system started to leak.

That leak created mold, which KCMO schools must now spend the next

several weeks cleaning out, so students and teachers won't get sick.

Mylic Houcks, a Knotts student, has just one week until he goes

back to school.

Yet he and his family had no idea he would not be starting the new

school year at Knotts.

" A decision has been made just to take the whole school and move it

to Pershing, " said Wheeler, with the KCMO School District.

Wheeler said they just made the decision to move the entire school

to one of their empty buildings, after seeing the results of last

month's air quality test.

" Rather than just cleaning a section and calling it a day, the

district decided to make sure this entire building was prepped, "

said Wheeler.

" It's bad enough that the kids have to be bussed period way, way,

away from their school early in the morning, " said

Houcks, Mylic's mother.

The Houcks hope they and other families won't have to deal with the

relocation for long. The cleaning should take anywhere from 4 to 8

weeks.

" We don't need the whole school getting sick, you know what I'm

saying? And have the whole school be out for for a couple of months

and have them have to make it up when school gets out next year, "

said Houcks.

" Bottom line, it's in the best interest of students. I know as a

parent, I don't want my child coming back into a building that may

not have healthy air. And all we're trying to do is address the

issue of healthy air, " said Wheeler.

Wheeler said the school is contacting all parents by phone or mail,

and if you're a parent that hasn't received information, you will.

And, bus transportation will be available.

Linsey Grams, FOX 4 News, Kansas City, Mo.