St. East High School - Cleanup gets mold out of high school

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mold23.html

August 23, 2002

Cleanup gets mold out of high school

BY DAN ROZEK STAFF REPORTER

Construction crews and school officials showed off a newly reopened St.

East High School on Thursday, more than a year after the far west

suburban high school was closed because of potentially hazardous levels of

mold.

The $17 million, 10-month job was painstaking work, said Kedrowski,

project manager for the company that oversaw the project. He described how

workers removed ceiling panels to scrub down steel beams and used cotton

swabs to clean, by hand, the inside of each light switch in the

massive--375,000-square-foot--building in an effort to eliminate any trace

of mold.

" We wanted to make sure we got into every square inch to clean it, " said

Kedrowski, whose company was hired by St. School District 303. " The

entire facility was cleaned, basically, inch by inch. "

The work went beyond cleaning. Walls were ripped out and replaced, new

insulation and ceiling panels were added in many areas, and heating and

ventilation systems were replaced.

The work was done to eliminate several strains of potentially hazardous mold

that was found growing on school walls and ceilings in March 2001. Experts

blamed the mold on leaks that let water seep into the school, which was

built in 1977.

The discovery of mold forced the move of 2,400 students who attended St.

East to St. North High School to finish out the 2000-2001

academic year. Then, last fall, the students were moved to Wredling Middle

School, though many classes also were held in mobile classrooms on the

school grounds.

With the cleanup, the purchase of mobile classrooms to handle the students

and other costs involved in transferring students, the district spent about

$28 million all together on the mold problems--a lot, but still cheaper than

a new building, school officials said.

The repaired and rebuilt St. East got its final occupancy permit

this week, and students are scheduled to return for classes next Wednesday.

" We're open for business. Bring on the kids, " St. East Principal

Nina Narozny said.

The school had been the target of complaints for more than a decade about

poor air quality. The different types of mold found there are thought to

bring on allergic reactions, sinus and respiratory problems, and to

aggravate breathing problems, particularly asthma. The work should eliminate

those concerns, school officials said. And they said they've taken steps to

ensure that proper and timely maintenance is done to stave off future

problems.

One key change was replacing some steel-insulated walls with old-fashioned

cinder block.

" It's more water-resistant, it's less prone to any kind of [mold] growth, "

said Kedrowski, an industrial hygienist for Carnow, Conibear and Associates.

Some students checking out the building Thursday liked the changes, which

included the addition of windows that make the inside of the building

brighter.

" I think we all like the idea of being back in our school, " said 17-year-old

Enockson, an incoming senior.