Temple City Unified School District's La Elementary - School Biohazard

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City News Service

April 18, 2001 Wednesday

School Biohazard

By LESLIE SIMMONS, City News Service

Temple City Unified School District officials declined comment today on a

lawsuit filed on behalf of 28 La Elementary students who allege that

their school is a " biohazard. "

Teachers and staff of La and the students' parents also joined the

suit.

It alleges that the school at 9301 La Drive is " infested with a toxic

mold biohazard that threatens the life and health of any persons who spend

any significant time in the school, including most particularly the children

who attend school there, and the teachers and staff members who work there. "

District employee Young said officials have not seen the lawsuit that

was filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The plaintiffs claim the " toxic molds " include Penicillium, numerous species

of Aspergillus, Stachybotrys chartarum, Cladosporium and Alternaria.

Those molds are " known to produce or aggravate a variety of health effects,

among others: cancer, immuno-suppression, birth defects, nausea, dizziness,

skin rashes, mucous membrane irritation and respiratory infections, " the

lawsuit states.

Teachers " and students at the school have reported to defendants that they

are suffering from the symptoms of illnesses and conditions that are known

to result from exposure to mold, " the lawsuit states. " Defendants have not

responded in any manner and have not taken any action to protect against the

mold bio-hazard. "

The suit alleges that the district, its superintendent and the school's

principal are denying that a biohazard exists and that the molds pose any

health threat.

The plaintiffs also claim school officials are:

-- concealing or disposing of the biohazard;

-- concealing what effects the molds could have on the students and

teachers;

-- suppressing information from instructors and parents about the school's

condition;

-- resisting investigations or tests of the molds;

-- misrepresenting the results of investigations and tests at the campus;

-- and instructing and encouraging La employees to " ostracize " teachers

who complain about the mold.

Some of the tests conducted at the campus included air sampling " that would

not and could not detect mold, " the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit stems from a complaint filed with the county health department

last April against the school, in which a teacher was found to have been

exposed to " high levels of mold, " according to the lawsuit.

In August, another teacher was diagnosed " with problems resulting from

exposure to mold, " the plaintiffs allege.

Though tests by an environmental testing firm approved by the district

indicated there was mold, district officials claimed the school had been

cleaned up and opened La for the 2000-2001 semester, according to the

lawsuit.

Since then, mold has been found on a classroom bulletin board, in the staff

lounge, in the ceiling of one room and in tiles in another room, the

plaintiffs contend.

They seek general, property and exemplary damages, as well as medical

expenses and lost earnings.

Copyright 2001 City News Service of Los Angeles, Inc.