Mold keeps growing, education money doesn't

[Guest guest]

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/

February 6, 2002

Mold keeps growing, education money doesn't

By Abby

The latest threat to the American education system does not wear a trench

coat.

But it is an enemy among us. It eludes our beefed-up security systems. It

scoffs at our safety plans. It does not need a visitors pass to roam the

halls. It actually prefers walls to halls. And carpet. And drywall.

It's mold.

I had no idea how much of a problem toxic mold had become until Carson

City's own Bordewich/Bray elementary school detected it in its modular

classrooms.

A brief surf netted a nine-page list of news stories on the Web about mold

and air quality issues in our nation's schools, all over the country.

I assumed mold problems would be confined to the moist parts of the country.

Growing up near a river in Connecticut, we used a vinegar solution to purge

our screened porch from mildew as part of the spring cleaning ritual.

Mold thrives on organic material, according to Carson City School District

operations director Mike . Drywall, carpet, and damp wood are

home-sweet-home for the noxious stuff. All it needs is a bit of water and no

sun to bloom.

The problem is especially acute in modular buildings which are constructed

of wood. At Bordewich/Bray, the modular classrooms are on permanent

foundations. This sounds solid and reassuring, but it means that the

moisture of the environment can seep more easily into the building's

mold-inviting wood materials. Permanent school buildings are usually

constructed from concrete or brick which discourages mold.

In contrast, the 19 portable classrooms at Carson Middle School are above

ground on metal frames, not as susceptible to mold. Nevertheless,

nationally, portables have incubated their share of mold too and are

vulnerable to moisture intrusion from leaking roofs.

The mold epidemic has been likened to asbestos, a hidden cancer- causing

fiber used in insulation. But asbestos is inert. Mold is alive.

The toxic mold can make you sick or even kill you, although some people are

more susceptible to it than others. With the increase in respiratory

illnesses such as asthma, especially in children, the mold mess must be

taken seriously.

The trickiest part of all is eliminating it. Mr. estimates that it

could cost about $800,000 just to fix the problem at Bordewich/Bray. That's

a huge amount of money to deal with a non-education problem.

It seems that more often than not, financial resources for education are

needed for the infrastructure of education. The problem is that in Nevada,

the financing options for these building issues are limited. Without a

capitol improvement fund to set aside dollars on a regular basis for

replacement of the buildings, the school district is at the mercy of the

taxpayers who want to link academic achievement of today's students to the

funding of buildings.

The mold mess is shining the light on a couple of issues that should be part

of the governor's mandate and the Legislature's agenda. When state leaders

are looking at new and different sources of revenue to remain solvent, they

should revisit the way schools are funded, and their dependence on property

taxes and bond issues to generate these funds.

Proliferation of mold, especially in pre-fab structures, should sound the

alarm. Perhaps temporary buildings, and buildings with shorter life spans

are actually more costly in the long run.

The challenge is to convince the decision makers and taxpayers of today that

real buildings lasting 100 years are a long-term investment in the American

educational system that's worth their financial sacrifice.

Abby consults on rural community development, grant management and

nuclear waste issues. She is married and has one child in middle school in

Carson City.