IAQ Inspector tours Cle Elum school this morning

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Inspector tours Cle Elum school this morning

Information will be used in district plan

04/15/02

MICHAEL GALLAGHER

CLE ELUM - Prill, a building science and air quality professional

with Washington State University, began his walk-though investigation of Cle

Elum-Roslyn High School at 8:30 this morning.

Prill's work is funded through a federal Environmental Protection Agency

Tools for Schools grant. He has conducted similar investigations at about

250 schools in the state. An EPA representative is accompanying him in Cle

Elum.

" We look for good building practices, " Prill said. " We kind of look at

everything. We look from top to bottom, inside and out. "

Prill said he looks for things like areas of water incursion that could lead

to mold growth, ventilation systems and whether the building is being

maintained properly. He does not take air samples or conduct microbiological

testing.

" Typically people don't recommend air sampling right off the bat, " Prill

said.

Prill's investigation is part of the process of the district adopting an

indoor air-quality plan.

" We'll help the district come up with a plan like we've done in all the

other schools, " Prill said.

Prill's visit was arranged by the Kittitas County Health Department.

Superintendent said she is hopeful that Prill's work will

assist the district in moving toward its goal of a healthy and safe

building. " This is an important piece of information in that effort, "

said. " Hopefully this will be information we can add to what we already know

about the building. "

The high school has been the subject of a number of investigations since

1996, including testing by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and

Health. The Kittitas County Health Department has done a few smoke tests to

determine if the classrooms are effectively sealed off from the crawl

spaces, thereby eliminating a pathway from the toxins produced by any mold

growth.

Over the years the different tests have led to a variety of corrective

actions, but high school staff and students continue to complain of

illnesses thought to be connected to poor indoor air quality.

Students staged two walkouts prior to spring break to emphasize their

concerns. Upon return from break, arranged for air quality experts to

present information to students at a series of assemblies last Tuesday.

Last week announced the district has applied for $176,000 from the

state to take emergency corrective actions at the school, including

installing gutters and downspouts on the high school.

said the district also is cooperating with the county health

department in forming a coalition to study indoor air quality at the school.

That group next meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Comtronic Systems Inc.

conference room, 205 Ave. in Cle Elum.

Unlike the smoke tests conducted by the health department, representatives

of the press were not allowed to accompany Prill during his investigation.

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