Holliman School leaks, air quality to be addressed

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Written by HOWELL, JOHN

Tue, Dec 16 08

By JOHN HOWELL

http://warwickonline.com/warwickonline/index.php?

option=com_content & task=view & id=39668 & Itemid=174

Warwick Beacon - Warwick,RI,USA

Second-grade teacher Marcaccio couldn't believe what she found

when she entered her classroom Friday morning. Water was dripping

from the ceiling and a puddle extended a quarter of the way across

the floor.

What Marcaccio discovered was hardly unique to Holliman School

during a day that drenched the city with almost 4 inches of rain.

There were leaks in the library, several other classrooms and one in

the main corridor that was so bad that it took half-a-dozen buckets

to get it under control.

Some teachers believe the leaks are responsible for more than wet

floors. While there is no evidence to support it, they think the

dampness and moisture are the cause for mold. And the mold, they

say, could explain why the students and faculty have so many

respiratory problems.

School Superintendent Horoschak, who toured the school Friday

with Warwick Teachers Union President Ginolfi, has a multi-

pronged plan to address the leaks and teacher concerns.

" The most we can do is patch the leaks, because we don't have the

funds [to replace the roof], " he said. Crews have started that work

as well as clearing roof drains so water doesn't pool on the flat

rubber roof. All of the leaks are around former skylights that have

been covered with plywood to make them appear as part of the

ceiling. The plastic bubbles of the skylights, however, were never

removed and still rise above the roof.

Meanwhile, school air quality, which was the subject of a study

conducted earlier this fall, is to be addressed independently.

" We want to get the air moving properly, " said Horoschak. He said

Ricchiuti, school environmental coordinator, found that a

number of classroom unit ventilators had been partially or

completely blocked. Some had been blocked by books and items placed

on top of them, while in one case a bookcase obstructed air flow.

Horoschak said filters in the units proved to be clean, but the

units themselves hadn't been cleaned for an extended period. The

plan calls for the removal of obstructions and cleaning the units.

The third prong of the effort will be to assess whether there is a

mold problem.

" I think the concern is legitimate, " said Horoschak, " there could be

mold in the skylights where the water has gotten in. " The plan is to

remove some of the plywood sections and check for mold.

Teacher Jeanne Petit, who alerted school officials of the leaks,

said the condition is not new and seems to be affected not only by

the rain but also the wind. As for conditions in the school, she

complained of persistent headaches that only go away on weekends

when she's not in the building.

" I know something is wrong, " she said.

Petit's complaints are echoed by other teachers. Fourth-grade

teacher Shirlie Bacon, who has worked in Holliman for 17 years, said

she has had a post nasal drip, although she couldn't say for sure if

it is caused by the school environment.

School nurse Helen Bradshaw said this year is bad for respiratory

problems, especially for students and faculty in the wing where

there are the most leaks. Bradshaw also observed that the school

hasn't been so full in years, so that it would stand to reason she

would see more health problems than in prior years. With the closure

of nearby School, all of the Holliman classrooms are in use

and enrollment has swelled to 371 elementary school students.

" We move from a good school into one that leaks, " said Petit, who

moved to Holliman when closed. The Rhode Island School for

the Deaf is looking to lease a portion of the School

beginning in June.

Holliman night custodian Graves said there were no leaks when

he left the building at 10 p.m. Thursday. The next day, however,

custodian Jim Dubois found his work cut out for him.

Petit and other members of the staff praised Dubois for vacuuming up

the puddles and positioning buckets to keep the leaks under control.

There was no way to get rid of all the water.

One school parking lot and the back end of the playground turned

into ponds. And to the amusement of students and faculty it wasn't

long before a pair of ducks were paddling about.