Use bonds to attack mold in Austin schools

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Use bonds to attack mold in Austin schools

Editorial Board

Austin American-Statesman

Sunday, January 6, 2002

Mold has invaded Austin public schools.

Abating it is expensive -- about $49 million. But ignoring it will be more

costly. The physical damage to schools caused by mold contamination will

worsen, driving up abatement and repair expenses. Then there is a human cost

associated with mold: When present in certain forms and quantities, it

inflames allergies, but it can be far more dangerous -- even toxic -- to

people. Harmful mold caused the Austin Independent School District to

temporarily shut down Hill Elementary School in Northwest Austin. It cost

the district $5 million to eradicate mold so that the school could be

reopened.

AISD paid that out of pocket via maintenance and operations money, the same

pool of dollars that is used to pay teacher salaries and educate students.

But Austin school officials now must deal with a mold outbreak on eight

campuses. They have wisely proposed that mold cleanup and prevention be

financed with bonds -- and not classroom dollars.

Voters should approve the $49.3 million bond package. That is a fiscally

responsible way to deal with mold problems. None of the $49.3 million is for

new construction, such as classrooms, gymnasiums or libraries.

Bonds are the best choice in this case because they would allow Austin

school officials to spread out payments for such capital improvements over

time without dipping into money set aside for classroom instruction,

including teacher salaries. Diverting money from the classroom would hurt

efforts to improve academics at a time when students are being pressed to

meet higher state standards.

The best reason to use bonds is to ensure that AISD has adequate money to

address the entire problem in a timely fashion so that students --

regardless of what school they attend -- are not in harm's way. There are no

federal or state guidelines on the level of airborne mold spores that should

trigger evacuation of a school. So far, mold has been discovered at Galindo,

Korcurek, Boone, Widen, Summitt, Patton, Palm and Pleasant Hill elementary

schools. All were built from the district's 1983 bond package and all have

metal roofs have been associated with mold.

In addition to those schools, AISD officials want to fix air conditioning

and drainage problems and leaks at other schools to prevent future mold

contamination.

The timing couldn't be better for a bond package. AISD has nearly paid off

its remaining bond debt from the 1996 bond issuance, so the tax bite should

be minimal. If district figures are correct, phasing in new bond debt as old

bond debt is retired should have no effect on the current tax rate of $1.55

per $100 of assessed property value.

Using bond funds for mold removal keeps the district from diverting money

from the classroom or drawing down on its $50 million fund balance. A

healthy fund balance holds down interest payments.

The welfare of students, teachers, cafeteria workers and janitors that are

in mold-infested buildings should be our primary concern in curbing mold in

our schools. At Patton Elementary School where mold has been discovered,

parents are leery of increased episodes of colds, flu, headaches and

sniffles. There is no conclusive evidence linking those ailments to mold.

Even so, parents making frequent trips to the doctor with kids who in the

past rarely were sick are unconvinced.

AISD voters should approve the bonds on Feb. 2. Or they can do it in early

voting that begins Jan. 16.

Removing mold now will curb higher maintenance costs in the future, avert

school closings and remove potential health risks to students and AISD

employees. Doing it through bond financing would prevent a raid on money

meant for the classroom.