Heritage High School to close 20 days for removal of mold

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Heritage High School to close 20 days for removal of mold

By News-Sentinel Blount County bureau

September 12, 2002

MARYVILLE - Heritage High School students will get an unexpected vacation

because of mold.

The Blount County Board of Education has voted to close the school for 20

days starting Monday. Work will actually begin this weekend, officials said.

The board and parents were told Sept. 3 that of 22 rooms tested at the

school, three were positive for mold. W.C. " Bud " Helton and Associates

conducted the testing after some students reported health problems.

Parents attending the meeting wanted the school closed immediately.

Helton told the board one of the culprits is moisture buildup inside the

school, and that the heat and air-conditioning units should be kept running,

even when school is not in session.

One of the problems in dealing with mold is the federal Environmental

Protection Agency has no standards for mold as it does for lead and

asbestos, Helton said.

He said mold is one of the most difficult problems to eradicate in schools

because mold reproduces at alarming rates. Asbestos, for instance, does not

reproduce and is no problem once it's removed, he said.

Last week school officials announced students affected by the mold would be

allowed to attend classes at Eagleton School.

Previously, students with a doctor's excuse were excused from classes at

Heritage.

The shutdown will not affect the school's football season, officials said.

All games will be played.