Mold problems keeps Binghamton High wrestling room closed

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Mold problems keeps Binghamton High wrestling room closed

Press & Sun-Bulletin - Binghamton,NY*

By Basler September 23, 2008

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BINGHAMTON -- The wrestling practice room at Binghamton High School

remains sealed off because of air and mold problems discovered when

workers began replacing the room's floor over the summer.

Officials took the action after an industrial hygienist advised the

school to seek remediation services that specialize in mold removal.

Today, the area is off limits to students and staff until the

district discovers the full extent of the problem and takes

corrective action, something that could take a year, said

Deinhardt, assistant superintendent for administration.

The problem surfaced in August when maintenance workers began

pulling up the floor in the wrestling room. The room is located

between the swimming pool and a large gym in the basement of the D

building, which is separated from the school's main classroom wings.

When a section of the floor was removed, workers found tiles that

probably contain asbestos, Deinhardt said.

There were two other discoveries: a long-forgotten swimming pool

under the floor; and an offensive odor coming from the old pool

area, Deinhardt said.

The district contracted with Lora Dewey, an industrial hygienist

with the Schuyler, Steuben, Chemung, Tioga and Allegany Board of

ative Educational Services, to do mold testing. Air testing

was conducted first, to determine if the area was safe to enter.

High levels of carbon dioxide that can cause headaches, dizziness,

difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and asphyxia were

discovered, according to a memo from Dewey, dated Aug. 26.

" As we discussed, please strictly restrict access to this area and

seek engineering/remediation services that specialize in mold and

toxic atmosphere work, " the memo concludes.

The district immediately sealed off the room, and the room's

ventilation system, Deinhardt said.

" We took all necessary precautions to seal the area off from the

rest of the building, " he said, adding no illnesses or health

problems have been reported.

The district also contracted with Jennings Environmental Services,

of Binghamton, to test the wrestling room and old pool area to

determine the extent of the environmental problems and develop a

plan for remediation, Deinhardt said. The company did not return

telephone messages Tuesday.

The wrestling room flooded in November 2006 when flash flooding

clogged a drain and backed up water into the room, Deinhardt said.

The district cleaned and disinfected the room and wrestling

equipment at the time, but water settled in the space under the

floor.

Air in the wrestling room before had been tested previously.

Back in December Garbarino, director of health, physical

education and athletics, noticed an odor coming from the room,

Deinhardt said. The district retained Dewey to do air sampling at

that time.

Air sampling, done at the end of December, uncovered no visible

signs of mold in the room and found oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

well within normal ranges.

In a Jan. 4 memo, Dewey said the room had experienced water

incursion periodically over the years, and " a characteristic odor "

has been noted in the space. The memo further recommended the high

school continue to ventilate the area and made arrangements to

remove the surface under the mat.

The district received no reports of students becoming sick during

the last wrestling season, Deinhardt said. As a precaution, workers

ventilated the area during the season and disinfected it three times

a day, he said.

Everything changed in August when workers began ripping up the

floor, essentially breaking the seal between the wrestling room and

space underneath it, releasing the offensive odors, Deinhardt said.

A sign now posted to the room's door advices people to " keep out " of

a restricted area.

After Jennings Environmental finishes testing, it will work the

district's architect, McGraw of Syracuse, to develop a plan

for cleaning the room, and space underneath it, officials said. The

state Education Department will then have to approve the plan.

Remediation may not begin until next summer, officials said. Money

to do the work will come from a $37.35 million capital project that

residents approved in May 2007 to upgrade district buildings. Money

to support the project is coming from state building aid and a one-

time allocation of $4.82 million in state EXCEL aid.

The wrestling team will practice in the high school's small gym

during the season, Garbarino said.