Coon Valley Elementary School Opening Delayed for more testing

January 19, 2002

Thu Jan 17 16:19:12 CST 2002

School to undergo more examination

By Randy kson of the Tribune staff

COON VALLEY, Wis. - The reopening of Coon Valley Elementary School has been

delayed after environmental test results showed a couple areas of concern.

Further evaluation of the test results is under way, said Jerry Trochinski,

superintendent of the Westby Area School District.

" We had hoped for better news, but I wouldn't say it's bad news, " Trochinski

said.

The school, which a medical panel has diagnosed with sick building syndrome,

has been closed since late October while work was done to eliminate a rash

of problems.

Most of the carpeting in the building was replaced with tile. Blackboards

and bulletin boards also were taken off exterior walls to check for mold

growth, and the building underwent a cleaning.

After the work was done, the district hired Sharon Bessa and Associates, a

Middleton, Wis., environmental consulting firm, to conduct tests in the

building. The firm looked at everything from toxic fumes and biological

contaminants to carbon monoxide and psychogenics, which involves

psychological reactions to perceptions of an unhealthy environment.

The company presented its findings to an ad hoc committee in Coon Valley

Tuesday evening.

Trochinski said nothing stood out as a significant source of contamination

in the test results, but there were elevated levels of mold in some spots.

Most people could go to classes in the school building and not suffer any

ill effects, Trochinski said, but some people, such as those with asthma,

still might have unhealthy reactions.

" For the general population, you could occupy this building any day, " he

said.

No further work has been scheduled in the school, but Trochinski said

replacing some ceilings and doing more painting is being considered.

In the meantime, Coon Valley kindergartners and first- and second-graders

will attend class at Westby Elementary. Third- and fourth-graders will go to

Chaseburg Middle School.

Trochinski said the message he heard from parents at the meeting Tuesday is

they are eager to get their children back to their home school. " They want

to go back home, and you can't blame them, " he said.

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