school set for mold examination

July 12, 2002

2002-07-12

By Klinka

The Oklahoman

JONES -- Environmental consultants from the state Central Services

Department will collect mold samples throughout School today and

Monday, Superintendent Mike Steele said Thursday.

Steele said two experts did a preliminary " walk- through " of the school

Thursday and pledged to help rid the buildings of any toxic substances

found.

Steele said at least a week will be needed to get the test results of the

mold samples the state agency is collecting, and then another week to

develop a plan of action for the clean-up.

Delen LeCompte, a fifth- grade teacher at school, said black mold in

her classroom has caused her to suffer health problems so severe she's

unable to drive a car or hold a job.

LeCompte, 37, said tests of mold taken from her classroom's air-conditioning

unit showed the sample was stachybotrys, a potentially lethal fungus that

can spread mold spores through the air.

The science-language arts teacher said she paid for the mold to be tested at

an independent laboratory.

LeCompte said exposure to the mold has caused her to develop a rapid

heartbeat and neurological problems, to lose weight and to be nauseated,

dizzy and fatigued.

The Central Services Department has pledged to handle the actual clean-up,

which could take a week, Steele said.

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