Mold at Kennedy School not a danger, officials say

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Mold at Kennedy School not a danger, officials say

(Published Friday, April 26, 2002 12:05:39 PM CDT)

By Schultz/Gazette Staff

Janesville school officials believe tiny amounts of mold found inside a wall

at Kennedy Elementary School are no cause for concern.

An environmental consultant from Lake Mills inspected the school Thursday

and this morning and determined that the small black spots on a piece of

loose drywall were " microbial growth. "

Doug Bunton, district business director, said the spots would need to be

tested, but they most likely are mold.

The drywall piece, about 9-inches square, had been left inside the wall

during construction.

The consultant and district staff opened the wall this morning and found no

other signs of mold.

" The consultant indicated to us that there is no mold concern, no further

action is required, and all is good to go, " Bunton said.

The mold was discovered after a pipe leak was found Wednesday. Bunton said

it's believed the pipe had a pinhole leak for some time, and the leak

recently got bigger.

Bunton said the consultant believes the drywall scrap had some contamination

on it at the time of construction, and the moisture from the leak allowed

the microbes to grow.

T. Bushman of Environ mental Management Consulting recommended that the

area be thoroughly dried, repaired and periodically inspected to confirm

that no leaks remain.

" The district has been advised that it is safe for students to remain in

school ... " according to a news release issued Thursday. " If parents do not

feel it is safe for their child to come to school, then by all means they

should keep them home. "

Only 16 students were absent from Kennedy this morning, most for illness or

vacation, which is about typical, officials said. No parent called with with

concerns. Another letter is being sent home with students today.

The broken water pipe was discovered behind a wall in the first- and

second-grade bathrooms.

An access panel has been installed in the bathroom to allow future

inspections, and Bunton said access panels to the plumbing in other

bathrooms in the building would be installed this summer.

Bunton said most of the building materials around the leak are

mold-resistant, but the drywall piece was not.

Kennedy, Janesville's newest public school, opened in August 2000.

A Madison School District ele mentary school that opened in August 2001 had

to be closed three months later because of mold found in a closet and

masonry. A DeForest elementary school was closed this spring, also with a

mold problem.

Molds produce tiny spores that are part of their reproductive cycle. These

spores are in the air--indoors and outdoors--constantly, according to the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

" When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and

digesting whatever they are growing on n order to survive, " according to the

EPA Web site. " There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and

foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth

will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered

or unaddressed. "

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include

allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.

Bunton said no unusual ailments have been reported at Kennedy.