Salem (MA) News: Teachers meet with union reps over mold

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(http://www.salemnews.com/) The Salem News

Teachers meet with union reps over mold

By Stacie N. Galang

Staff Writer

September 25, 2009 12:18 am

PEABODY — A group of Carroll School teachers handed Superintendent C.

Milton Burnett a one-page list of actions they asked be taken to reassure them

their elementary school is safe from mold.

Bruce , president of the Peabody Federation of Teachers, said

yesterday he and the Boston field representative met with 15 to 20 educators

for

an hour yesterday to discuss the presence of the microscopic fungi.

They also toured the affected part of the building.

said " at least a few " teachers reported they or their students had

breathing-related problems, headaches or sore throats.

Teachers expressed concern about the building's air quality and mold, he

said.

Burnett arrived later with some city officials to explain to the remaining

teachers what the district had done to solve the problem, said.

" I think (teachers) are pleased that they are now being — their concerns

are now being — listened to and addressed, " he said. " Some of the teachers

indicated in a meeting with us they have been reporting issues with the

(heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system, about such things as

condensation and mold issues, for years now. "

The union planned to follow up with the district, asking for reports from

the mold cleanup.

" I will not be completely pleased until the teachers in the building are

not finding a reoccurrence (of mold) and not suffering any health issues, "

said.

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