Austin's Hill Elementary School Closes Room

February 24, 2000

Austin American-Statesman

February 22, 2000

Citing air quality, school closes classroom

By Michele Kurtz

Concerns about air quality have prompted Austin's Hill Elementary School to

close a room to students while officials test for mold and other particles.

The room, once occupied by a class of fourth-graders, was closed last weekend

after a teacher more than a week ago went to the hospital complaining about the

air, Principal Marcia Rossi said Monday.

School officials have been battling a mold problem at Hill for several months.

At the start of school this year, Rossi, a handful of teachers and a student

were treated at hospitals for allergylike symptoms that some attributed to the

air at Hill, which is in Northwest Austin. Recently, the majority of faculty

members told a district official that they suffer from allergylike symptoms that

they think are caused by the school's air.

Pinpointing the exact cause is difficult, though, because some people might

already suffer from allergies or be bothered by the air in Austin, officials

said.

Air tests at times have shown higher than recommended levels of mold and carbon

dioxide in certain parts of Hill. But Area Superintendent Larry said the

levels aren't high enough to pose a serious health risk.

School district officials believe that construction at the school has made the

problem worse.

" Right now we have no health dangers, " said. " But we do have some people

who already had allergies, and in this situation it was probably exacerbated. "

To reduce the problem, workers have cleaned the school thoroughly twice this

year, changed air filters weekly and installed portable dehumidification

equipment. The district plans to install a supplemental air system this summer

that should improve conditions significantly, said Lance Giles, assistant

director of maintenance.

The Texas Department of Health plans to visit the school later this week. Other

tests are also being conducted.

You may contact Michele Kurtz at mkurtz@... or 445-3812.

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