Health fears keep grade school closed

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Fairfield Parents Confront District

Health fears keep grade school closed

Schevitz, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 3, 1998

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Waving signs and chanting, more than 50 parents and teachers marched into

the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District offices yesterday demanding

answers about health hazards at Crescent Elementary School.

The district's school board closed the 785-student school November 20 under

pressure from parents and teachers after a mold that may be carcinogenic was

discovered behind a classroom wall.

District officials insist that the students and teachers are not at risk

from the mold. They had planned to bring students back to school tomorrow in

portable classrooms, but the reopening has been postponed until at least

December 10 because the classrooms are not ready and testing results are

late.

Many parents said yesterday that they do not trust the district officials

because they were not informed about the mold and high carbon dioxide levels

discovered earlier this year at the school.

Middendorf told acting Superintendent Lenahan that she does

not want her children to return to the school until it is completely cleaned

up.

``They want to go back to school, but they are scared. Don't send them back

to a school that isn't safe,'' she said, as others waved signs decorated

with skulls and crossbones.

The school has been plagued with health complaints all year. Several

teachers and students have suffered allergies, asthma, headaches and

fatigue. Tests done in January and August found high levels of carbon

dioxide in the school from an inadequate ventilation system. And in October,

the district was cited by Cal-OSHA for mold-spotted windowsills in a

classroom.

On November 5, the school board approved $850,000 for more testing and to

install a new air- conditioning and heating system and replace carpeting

with tiles to reduce dust.

The district also had extra maintenance crews clean the school and run fans

and open windows to keep air flowing through the classrooms. But the new

testing uncovered mold behind classroom walls that may be carcinogenic.

``That is what got the community going. If you eat that everyday, yes it

will probably eventually cause cancer. But that is very hard to happen from

behind a wall,'' Lenahan said.

He said parents were not told about the carbon dioxide and molds because the

problems were being addressed.

``We knew there were irritants, and we were taking action. We had done what

the tests said we should do,'' he said.

Noreen Ramos said that was unacceptable.

``How dare they mess with our children's health,'' she said. ``I think it is

irresponsible to reopen the school.''

Many parents urged the district not to reopen the school before winter

break, which runs from December 19 to January 4, so the school can be

cleaned.

Lenahan answered parents' questions for almost two hours yesterday morning

and said no decision would be made about returning students to the school

until next Monday's school board meeting at which test results will be

discussed.

Even if more cleanup is needed, the main buildings would be sealed off to

protect students and teachers working in portables, he said.

That did not appease the crowd.

Kindergartner Lorimae Quarle has had such severe asthma since the start of

school that her mother, Jeneva, has to give her medicine every day during

class.

``She hasn't had any problems since she has been out of school,'' Jeneva

Quarle said.

©1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A25