Introduction of fresh air may put end to Middle School students' sick spells

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Introduction of fresh air may put end to students' sick spells

By Rouse

Denver Post Staff Writer

Friday, March 08, 2002 - LITTLETON - An aging ventilation system at

Middle School may have been keeping fresh air out of the building for years,

causing students to suffer headaches, runny noses and breathing problems.

" I thought I was getting the flu. I would go home and, like 10 minutes

later, I was fine, " said Todd, an eighth-grader who left school

sick several times.

District workers this week are trying to manipulate the building's

22-year-old heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system to triple the

amount of outdoor air pumped into the building.

Tri-County Health Department discovered high levels of carbon dioxide at

in January.

District officials had already planned to ask voters in November to approve

a bond issue to pay for improvements to its 24 schools, including up to $2

million to replace 's five ventilation units that don't meet fresh-air

standards, said superintendent Stan Scheer.

" The project at is one of our high priorities, " he said.

In January, following complaints from five parents, Tri-County tested the

building for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and mold.

Mold and carbon monoxide were not a problem, but carbon-dioxide levels had

exceeded the maximum level, 1,000 parts per million, recommended by the

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.

That level is not harmful, said Bruce , director of environmental

health for the agency.

Symptoms such as watery eyes, runny noses and headaches show up at those

levels, according to Tri-County, which serves Arapahoe, and

counties.

To remedy the problem, more fresh air needs to be pumped into the school,

officials said.

Part of the problem, said Randy , school district environmental

manager, is the energy-efficient design of the building that was popular in

the 1980s.

The district last year spent $310,000 to replace one of the six air units at

. speculated that the district has spent $3,000 to $5,000 in

the past two months to deal with the most recent air problems.

Several parents are on a committee to monitor improvements. Todd,

's mother, said at least 30 parents said their children are having

problems. enrollment is 900 students in grades six through eight.