Greenville school closes for cleanup - 12/10/98

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Greenville school closes for cleanup

by Associated Press

12/10/98

GREENVILLE - A Greenville County school with a big mold problem will soon

be closed several months for cleanup. But some parents say Buena Vista

Elementary should have been evacuated as soon as the mold was discovered.

At a school board meeting Tuesday night, more than a dozen parents

alternated between applause and grumbles. Several interrupted Superintendent

Rudolph Gordon; one was escorted back to his seat by security.

''I demand the board shut that school down!`` parent Trina Rice shouted. ''I

don't know what we're waiting on. We've got sick children.``

Parents cheered when board member Ann Sutherlin recommended seeking advice

from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The motion passed

unanimously.

District officials will remove everyone from the Greenville school until the

mold is wiped out and the leaky roof repaired. The 900 students will spend

about four months in portable classrooms after they return from Christmas

break, Gordon said.

All materials, including books and desks, will be decontaminated before they

are moved to the portables.

Environmental testing consultants said the leaking roof was to blame for the

mold. AAA Environmental of Spartanburg checked the school and recommended in

October the school district close it.

''If your biggest concern was the safety and health of the employees, then

you would want to remove everybody from the building,`` project designer

Janet said.

However, a later study said an immediate evacuation wasn't necessary.

''At no time during our decision-making did I believe the safety of our

students or staff was in question,`` Gordon said.

District officials say few students are affected by the mold. At greatest

risk are those with allergies or weakened immune systems. Transfers to other

schools for such students and teachers are being granted.

said based on interviews and medical reports, more than 10 percent

of the school's population is sensitive to the molds. Children having

nosebleeds indicates a real potential health risk, she said.

Gordon insists students were not in immediate danger. ''There are no

standards regarding acceptable fungi levels,`` he said.

Parents said they simply wanted the district to err on the side of caution.

''As far as the levels found, that's like arguing the exact weight and

ounces of the tree about to fall on you,`` said Glen Overman, a Buena Vista

parent.