Oct 23, 2007 7:06 pm US/Central
Districts Work To Prevent Mold In Classrooms
(WCCO)
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Administrators in the St. Francis School District ripped off walls in the classroom trailers and discovered what appears to be mounds of mold; tests are underway.
CBS
Possible mold problem in portable classrooms has parents wondering if their children are safe.
After several students and teachers got sick in the St. Francis school district, administrators investigated. They ripped off walls in the classroom trailers and discovered what appears to be mounds of mold; tests are underway.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District, the state's largest, has worked for years to stop mold in schools. The district uses 98 portable classrooms to accommodate a growing student population.
"To basically take the edge off our class size and not build unnecessary facilities and keep a balance and they work very well for us," said Administrative Services Director Chuck Holden.
However, St. Francis School District found that they don't work well when they become covered with what looks like mold.
"I've had two kids go through this school system. I wouldn't want them in this classroom," said St. Francis Services Director Tom Larson.
The Anoka-Hennepin District can relate. Ten years ago Crooked Lake Elementary closed for several months to clean up mild discovered in the ceiling.
Since then, "on a regular basis we have building supervisors and custodians checking for leaks or damage. And our buildings and grounds department puts a notice out anytime there is severe weather," said Holden.
They use a special moisture detection device to find places where mold could potentially grow.
"This one can test woods, wall surfaces, roofing material. I can set it for a plaster wall, brick wall, sheet rock wall," said Anoka-Hennepin Maintenance Director Curt Maki. "You'd move this around the wall looking for potential readings."
If moisture is registered but not visible on the surface, they will send a probe into the wall that will inspect the interior of the wall space with a camera.
That way the damage can be assessed and fixed before potential mold could grow.
"The health and well-being of our staff and students is of utmost concerns," said Holden.
The St. Francis school district tested for mold last week but that was before the walls and floor boards were pulled up.
New tests will be conducted within the next few days which should be more accurate.
Like Anoka-Hennepin, some other districts count on teachers and staff to look out for any signs of moisture so maintenance staff can fix the leak before the mold grows.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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