Mold in classroom cancels pre-K in Brussels

[Guest guest]

Mold in classroom cancels pre-K in Brussels

Alton Telegraph - Alton,IL*

October 31, 2008

By MAGGIE BORMAN

The Telegraph

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/brussels_19763___article.html/knuckl

es_classroom.html

" The mold is a concern to all of us. We want to maintain the safety

of everyone involved while keeping the community informed about our

actions. " - Brussels School District Superintendent Tom Knuckles

BRUSSELS - Concerns about mold in a modular classroom prompted the

Brussels School District to cancel classes for its pre-kindergarten

students until next week.

Pre-kindergarten will resume next Thursday in the auditorium of St.

School in Brussels, the district's superintendent, Tom

Knuckles, said Friday.

" We shared our classroom emergency with St. School, and they

were kind enough to make classroom space available for use by our

pre-k class, " Knuckles said. " We have no idea how long we might need

to use their auditorium, and appreciate their generous offer and

willingness to work with us during this emergency. "

Knuckles said heavy rains of a few weeks ago apparently compromised

the modular facility that the district rents from a local individual

for the pre-kindergarten classroom on the Brussels schools complex.

Knuckles said the water that penetrated the modular facility caused

mold and mildew to grow. The facility was cleaned using anti-

microbial solution, as well as a bleach and water solution, methods

recommended by environmental toxicologists of the Illinois

Department of Public Health.

The same procedures were followed again last Friday, 10 days after

the first cleansing.

Knuckles said the need to cancel classes until next Thursday is to

allow staff to prepare for moving the pre-kindergarten classroom

materials to the St. School location, and setting it up as a

classroom.

Letters have been sent to parents of the pre-k students throughout

the ordeal, keeping them informed of the situation.

The modular facility used for the pre-k classroom does not belong to

the district, although it is located on the Brussels campus. It is

leased through the pre-k grant administered by the Calhoun School

District and leased from a local individual.

" However, Brussels Unit No. 42 is responsible for maintenance and

repair of the facilities, meaning the modular classroom, " Knuckles

said. " We are not sure how long it will take to seal the leaks into

the building and remove the water-damaged materials, or what the

cost of repairs will be. "

If repairs are too costly, he said the district might need to find

another permanent location for the pre-k classroom.

The Brussels pre-k class this year has 20 students. The

superintendent of the Calhoun School District (which administers the

pre-k grant), Carole Crum, has contacted the Illinois State Board of

Education to make them aware of the situation in Brussels.

" The modular facility is the only facility space the Brussels School

has, so we are thankful St. School has offered us space in

their school, " Knuckles said. " And Superintendent Crum and I are

looking at what we can do to pay St. School for the use of

their space. "

maggie_borman@...