As summer vacation winds down, school mold problems have been reported in several states across the country. The following four news stories demonstrate the increasing awareness of the importance of air quality in schools.
Mold to Delay Opening of Elementary School
GILLETT, Wis. (AP) -- An elementary school in eastern Wisconsin will have its start date pushed back after mold was found throughout the building.
School was scheduled to start Sept. 1 for the Gillett School District in Oconto County. But mold has taken hold in nearly every room.
The district says it was apparently caused by the humid summer. It's mainly on the carpeting and isn't believed to be airborne.
It was discovered last week just before summer school ended. There haven't been any reports of illnesses.
Secondary school principal Jeremy Pach tells WLUK-TV the district is working with the Department of Public Instruction to determine a start date.
Mold Delays Start of School
ROSSVILLE, Kansas -- A mold problem is causing one school in the Kaw Valley school district to delay its start date.
According to Superintendent Jim McDaniel, mold was discovered at the Rossville Junior and Senior High School building, and while clean up and restoration is continuing on getting rid of the mold, it means that school for those students won't start until August 26th.
Mold Found in More Iowa Schools
SPRINGVILLE, Iowa (AP) -- Mold has delayed the start of class in more Iowa schools.
Officials in Springville, near Cedar Rapids, say mold has been found in an elementary school. The mold was found on Thursday, and students were sent home early.
No classes were being held on Friday.
There was no immediate word from school officials on how bad the mold problem is and how long it would take to clean it up.
Mold has also delayed classes at West Branch Middle School in West Branch and at Regina Catholic Education Center in Iowa City.
Both schools postponed the start of classes from this week until Monday.
Mold Delays School for W.B. Students
WEST BRANCH, Iowa -- Students at West Branch Middle School have been getting a few more days of summer vacation this week after mold was found at the school, delaying the start of the new year.
Superintendent Craig Artist said the mold was found in a couple of classrooms earlier this week, but spread rapidly to other parts of the building as workers tried to clean it up. That prompted him and other district officials to delay the start of school, originally scheduled for Wednesday, until at least Monday, he said. Students at Hoover Elementary in West Branch and West Branch High started on schedule Wednesday, he said.
Artist said the mold is not toxic, but could cause problems for anyone with allergies or asthma. Teachers have remained on the job, either subbing in other district buildings or wearing masks and gloves as they work in the middle school, he said.
About Andrea Fabry
I am a former journalist and the mother of nine children ranging in age from 28 to 12. My husband Chris, myself, and our children find ourselves in the desert of Arizona attempting to rebuild our health and our lives following a massive toxic mold exposure. The organization momsAWARE comes out of this crisis as a means to help educate and empower others on the subject of environmental health. Our family has also launched a natural line of personal care products called Just So, available at our Online Store.
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Our church used to meet in our town's Middle School. Every time I walked into the main lobby (carpeted with a raised ceiling and skylights) the odor was so obvious, I don't know how they don't get forced to fix it somehow. It's mold or mildew or SOMEthing. It really bothers my athsma that for several weeks, I wasn't sure if I could attend our church services as long as they were being held there! I hope they fix it soon. Thanks for another great post
ReplyDeleteWithout minimizing the school mold problems, schools should check the use of fragrances and cleaning chemicals as part of their indoor air quality. Axe body spray, for example, is overwhelming some students, and staff are resistant to consider it a problem.
ReplyDeleteSchools should be very clean and hygienic and obviously very much rid of all kinds of molds and mildew.The fungus infestation can cause much harm to children and adults and even sometimes be a cause of death.
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