The Center for School Mold Help

"There was a horrendous smell. I opened all the windows and turned on the fans, and otherwise you couldn't stay in there," Archer said.

The teachers said they complained to the principal about the smell early on and were repeatedly told it wasn't a problem and not to say anything to school parents." (WESH News)

Toxin-producing mold Aspergillus Niger, pictured above - one of the species in the genus Aspergillus

#15 virtualmom - Daytona - 2/1/2008 6:13:00 PM

I am a parent of a 5 year old in one of the evacuated classrooms and can say that I am very THANKFUL these teachers spoke out. I send my child to school expecting the staff-- everyone from the bottom up to the top--to act responsibly with regard to the safety (in this case) of MY child. ... For the administration to withhold information as they did, kept me from being able to ensure my child was breathing acceptably clean air! I am appalled at how this whole incident was handled. (www.news-journalonline.com)

POSTED: 5:11 pm EST February 8, 2008

UPDATED: 5:39 pm EST February 8, 2008

Video: Mold Issues At Daytona Beach School Have Parents Concerned

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Children are starting to get sick from a mysterious mold at a Daytona Beach elementary school. Toxicologists came out to Longstreet Elementary, but they still can't figure out what's causing the mold.

It's difficult to track down, too. The classrooms were just rebuilt this winter and a mold expert Friday explained that all it takes is some moisture like Thursday night's rain to get in during the rebuilding and then one tiny spore in one tiny crack can lead to big problems.

Tampa toxicologists and the county health department inspected the row of moldy classrooms Friday at Longstreet Elementary School. They found no obvious mold or environment for mold growth.

"It is serious and it is a problem," said parent Cheryl Martin.

Air samples confirmed the mold was there last month and Martin's experience with her daughter tells her it was a serious amount.

"The doctor checked her again for her breathing and he can hear the wheezing inside. And he put her on a breathing machine," she said.

Other parents are now reporting similar symptoms in their children.

"Stomach aches, severe stomach aches. She had bleeding, a bloody nose, which she never had in her life," said parent Shannon Durning.

"My child's been coughing and stuff lately, too. I don't know if it's due to the mold, but it concerns me. Her teacher's concerned about it," said parent Scott Wirth.

Last week, the school pulled everything out of the rooms and said the carpet, still wet from cleaning, was the likely suspect. That's gone, but the Health Department found signs of other potential causes, personal items still inside other classrooms under repair. They could collect dust and mold and spread it when students and teachers move back in.

One parent Friday didn't want to talk on camera but said he's even considering a lawsuit against the district.

The district spokesman said it's unclear what responsibility it would bear, if any, for the kids who are getting sick.

Copyright 2008 by wftv.com. 

WESH.com - Winter Park,FL*

http://www.wesh.com/news/15114586/detail.html

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Some teachers at a Volusia County elementary
school said they've been sickened by mold and mildew.

They said the school jeopardized children's health by refusing to
admit the classrooms at Longstreet Elementary School have problems.

One teacher went to the doctor and two others filled out workers
compensation forms to get authorization to see a doctor but said
they were denied by the district.

The district started renovating the second-grade wing last May and
on Jan. 11, teachers who had been in portables with their students
moved in to their new classrooms, and that's when they noticed the
smell.

"In my children it's the red eyes, the runny noses, the use of
tissue after tissue, headaches, stomachaches," said second-grade
teacher Sandra Blackburn.

Blackburn said after spending several days in her newly renovated
classroom, she and her students shared the same symptoms.

Judy Shubert, teaching second-graders next door, had to be relieved
of her duties.

"My throat had constricted to such a point that I had to call. I had
to get an emergency appointment, which I did receive a shot and some
meds in order to be able to breathe," Shubert said.

The teachers, along with guidance counselor Bill Archer who helped
them move in to the classrooms, said they knew immediately something
bad was in the air.

"There was a horrendous smell. I opened all the windows and turned
on the fans, and otherwise you couldn't stay in there," Archer said.

The teachers said they complained to the principal about the smell
early on and were repeatedly told it wasn't a problem and not to say
anything to school parents.

"If they moved in on a Friday and Saturday we had the complaint
Monday afternoon and we responded on Tuesday," Patricia Drago, the
executive director of facilities for the district, said.

Drago said their was no cover-up and that environmentalists did a
deep bio-cleaning after finding mold in the carpet and on some of
the porous surfaces but they insist neither children or teachers
were ever in harm's way.

"We did not have a health concern or a health risk at any time. We
did have odors. We did have a presence of mold in the carpet. I will
tell you that's not a unique situation in Florida, but we did have a
rapid response to it," Drago said.

The school district could not say whether the principal warned
teachers not to say anything, but they said that is not their method
of operation.

Since the situation arose, the school district said they have
decided to remove all materials in all of the second-grade
classrooms where mold could grow. They will replace all of it,
including the carpet.

The school district cited medical confidentiality as to the teachers
doctors' appointments.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Claire Metz.

------------------------------------

January 24, 2008

More mold testing ordered for 2 Longstreet classrooms
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST05012408.htm

DAYTONA BEACH -- An environmental consultant was brought in Wednesday to conduct additional tests on two classrooms at Longstreet Elementary School after teachers complained of eye and throat irritation in the wake of a recent renovation project.

School facilities director Pat Drago said complaints about an odor in the rooms were reported to her office Jan. 14, after four teachers and their classes moved from portables back to their permanent rooms after windows and exterior walkway covers were replaced at the South Peninsula Drive facility.

Tests by school district personnel detected mold and mildew in the carpet, which subsequently was cleaned along with air conditioning ducts. The rooms also were treated with ozone to remove any odor, Drago said, and plans are being made to replace the carpet.

Second grade teacher Sandra Blackburn said she suffered headaches, fatigue and eye and throat irritation since moving back into her classroom and some of her students also have had runny noses, sore throats and nosebleeds. Her class is meeting in a computer lab for now while another class has moved back to the portable it occupied during the renovation.

---------------------------

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and we will publish here on the SMH site, as well)

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Displaying #1 to #7 of 7 comments from other readers:

#1 Susan - CA - 1/24/2008 9:55:00 AM
The Center for School Mold Help, at www.schoolmoldhelp.org, has over 1,000 articles that will help the public and the teachers understand mold in schools and why this approach is failing. If the mold testing is by this district, we express concern (see our District Testing article). Note that this district cleaned moldy rugs and used ozone (rather than replacing them using remediation protections such as containment and cleaning the air per EPA and industry guidelines). Ozone is a respiratory irritant AND has no effect on mold. The smell from mold is a sign that it is there. Trying to cover up the smell by getting rid of it using ozone is an attempt at a Cheap Fix that won't remove the source of the problems. Undoubtedly, this district is also hauling contaminated materials from the moldy classroom(s) to the temporary spaces and then back. The Cheap Fix, once again, will not work and did make more people sick, by this bungling. The teachers and kids became ill when they returned to the "fixed" classrooms and had to leave again - read about their health complaints - we are appalled and wonder where this district got their ideas from, as these are definitely not science-based, nor supported by government advice.
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#2 Dizzy - PO - 1/24/2008 10:16:00 AM
Sounds reminiscent of Deland High School.
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#3 Sherree' Chonis - Fontana, CA - 1/24/2008 12:49:00 PM
Reply to #1 Susan: Mold is a serious issue, especially in a school where children and staff may have been exposed! Where was the leadership in this school and district?? The school(principal) and district is now trying to take care of the mold, it should have been handled weeks ago, when it was first suspected. It took people(teachers & children) becoming sick to address the mold. Not good enough! Children and teachers deserve better in our schools!
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#4 Anonymous - Daytona Beach - 1/24/2008 9:10:00 PM
Personally working at this school...there were a few things that were amiss with the story. First and foremost, the mold issue was and is being taken care of in a timely fashion. The teachers who went to the public with the story should have been checked out before the story was run, there are a lot of issues going on in that school that did deeper than the story about the mold. Racial discrimination is one word that comes to mind.
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#5 Objective Observer - Daytona Beach, FL - 1/24/2008 10:06:00 PM
Reply to #4 Anonymous: The message from Anonymous reads as if the writer is under the influence of toxic mold or other debilitating influence. The confusion between time and place, the fragmented thinking and ideation, calling two words "racial discrimination" one word, the jump from mold to racial discrimination itself is a rather dramatic and disconnected leap of logic. "Anonymous" should have joined the other teachers who escaped the hazardous environment before the mold exposure clouded all reasoning. If "Anonymous" is a teacher, medical treatment is necessary immediately before permanent and irrevocable damage occurs.
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#6 Teachers told daily 'do not tell parents'.... - Daytona Beach, FL - 1/27/2008 10:39:00 PM
Reply to #4 Anonymous: The health and safety of 7-8 year olds and Teachers can not be compromised in this potentially unsafe environment. It must be the top priority concerning this mold situation. Failing to immediately remove the children and professionals, along with the adjoining classrooms, from the moment stinky breathable air concerns were reported created safety concerns.A chain of trust was broken; students & parents trusted the Teacher to protect their child, the Teacher trusted Administration & District to protect the whole of the group. Daily reports of problematic concerns were made and was met with 'Don't tell the parents'. With multiple days of exposure, systematic cold-like symptoms worsened in children and Teachers, which ultimately resulted in an extreme reaction of one Teacher's throat constricting her breathing and sent her for emergency medical treatment. Two other Teachers also were diagnosed with 'mold exposure'. Children have like reports. Exposure to this unhealthy environment has created scary levels of elevated symptoms that range from physical cold-like symptons, to mental fatigue, fragmented thoughts, mid-sentence forgetfulness, an inner turmoil to focus, shaking your head to clear it, a change in sleep patterns of tossing & turning, frustration to function at your prior NORMAL levels, etc. Feeling these changes occurring is very frightening. The motive for telling the TRUTH is linked to a determination that the health and safety of our children will not be compromised....EVER!
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#7 Susan - CA - 1/28/2008 11:50:00 AM
Reply to #4 Anonymous: If the mold was being taken care of in "a timely manner", then why were adults and children placed in sick buildings with moldy carpeting such that they had to seek medical help to breathe? It would appear that there is an active coverup to avoid responsibility and the liability relating to potential lawsuits and worker's compensation. The district had the responsibility to check the rooms to see if they were suitable to move children into. School districts are responsible for the health and safety of children during school hours and to provide a safe and healthy workplace for workers. Then, to tell teachers not to tell parents? For shame!
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-----------------------------------------

Consultants Find Mold At Volusia School
http://www.wesh.com/news/15169068/detail.html

POSTED: 6:19 pm EST January 29, 2008
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EST January 29, 2008

The Volusia County School District released test findings from an Orlando Environmental consultant hired to check for mold at a Daytona Beach elementary school.

Last week, Longstreet Elementary School teachers complained of health problems and were worried that students were showing symptoms of mold exposure.

The newly renovated second-grade wing had been exposed to the weather during a six-month period. 
 
The consultant found high levels of common mold and mildew in four classrooms.

The rooms will not be used until all porous materials, including carpet, are removed and replaced.

The school sent letters home to parents on Tuesday explaining the situation.

Previous Story:
January 22, 2008: Teachers Say They Got Sick From Moldy School (see above) 

Copyright 2008 by WESH.COM.

-------------------------------------------- 

NEWS: East Volusia
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST03013008.htm

AP VIDEO

January 30, 2008

Kids, teachers moved out of classrooms with high mold count

By LINDA TRIMBLE
Education Writer

DELAND -- Indoor air tests of four recently renovated classrooms at Longstreet Elementary School in Daytona Beach showed elevated levels of a common form of mold, according to an environmental consultant's report released Tuesday.

Children and teachers have now been moved out of all four rooms while the carpet is replaced with vinyl tile and additional testing will be done before they move back, school facilities director Pat Drago said.

"If we've gotten to the source, they'll move in. If not, we'll keep after it," Drago said.

The air tests were ordered when teachers in two of the rooms complained of an odor and eye, throat and nose irritation after moving into the rooms on Jan. 11 after the classroom windows were replaced and other renovations completed.

School district tests detected mold and mildew in the carpet, which was subsequently cleaned along with air conditioning ducts. The rooms also were treated with ozone to remove odor.

The newest tests showed between 307 and 4,200 spores per cubic meter of aspergillus, which Drago described as a common form of mold, compared to outdoor samples showing 100 to 113 spores per cubic meter. Lower levels of some other organisms also were found in the classrooms.

"This all could have been avoided if they had checked the air before we went in there," said Sandra Blackburn, one of the teachers who complained about an odor and respiratory irritation. Drago said such tests will be conducted before other rooms being renovated at Longstreet are occupied again.

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Displaying comments from other readers:

#1 florida - orange city - 1/30/2008 6:38:00 AM
How is it that a school can accumulate high levels of mold? We pay the big bucks to have an entire Maintenance Dept employed by Volusia County Schools and they cant keep mold from growing? Hey School Maintenance Department get off your dead butts and do your job!!
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#2 Dana - NSB - 1/30/2008 7:47:00 AM
Why in the world would they install carpeting??? Not that VINYL tile is any better. What's wrong with good old fashioned linoleum - it doesn't outgas and it doesn't collect moisture/mold.
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#3 Citizen - NSB - 1/30/2008 1:54:00 PM
These teachers should have gone through the proper chanels, instead of causing panic and chaos. Next time. follow your contracts.
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#4 Dizzy AC - PO - 1/30/2008 2:14:00 PM
Good ol' Pat Drago and the cheapest ways to find "solutions". Replacing carpet isn't going to solve anything. Mold starts in the WALLS of buildings. Try tearing apart a piece of wall and you'll see where the problem starts.
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#5 Fellow Teacher - California - 1/30/2008 4:59:00 PM
Reply to #3 Citizen: The teachers did try to get help from their immediate supervisor and district for weeks! No one would LISTEN! I think PANIC was in order in this case. You must not realize or know the long term effects of mold exposure. Get your FACTS straight before making comments about the teachers behavior in this situation, I admire their courage in standing up for the safety of their students and doing the "right thing"! You could probably learn a few things from them!
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#6 NoMoreMold - CA - 1/31/2008 10:39:00 AM
The media should obtain the full mold testing report and publish it, as a linked document, as other news organizations do, so that the public may see exactly what was found. Considering this school district reportedly sanitized the rooms ahead of time, the counts may have actually been even higher. Independent testing by the teacher's union is in order. As a parent, I would not allow my children in these rooms, period.
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#7 NoMoreMold - CA - 1/31/2008 10:40:00 AM
Visit www.schoolmoldhelp.org for 1,000 articles about mold in schools. Go to Information - Sick Building Symptoms, Remediation, and Mold Testing for topics pertinent to this discussion.
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#8 Citizen - NSB - 1/31/2008 11:34:00 AM
Reply to #5 Fellow Teacher: And did they go to their barganing unit?
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#9 Citizen - NSB - 1/31/2008 1:08:00 PM
Reply to #5 Fellow Teacher: These teachers acted against their contracts by bringing the media into this. You know what - tell parents, tell students - let them tell the media, but don't sneak around on a weekend with the media when your contract says you can't contact the media, especially if you haven't contacted your barganing unit. Honor your contracts. Now your facts, Miss California Teacher.
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#10 Citizen - NSB - 1/31/2008 1:17:00 PM
Reply to #5 Fellow Teacher: And am I an advocate for mold removal - YES. Do I know the long term effects - well DUH! But there are rules for reasons. If the Principal did nothing and the District did nothing then you Union will. Florida is a 'Right to Work' State, incase you didn't know, Miss California Teacher, which means very few employees have the luxury of being in a union and having a group to advocate on their behalf. my next stop would have been to my union ref. I know how dangerous mold is. Most of the state of Florida is full of it. We live in a hot, humid, overly air conditioned environment where fresh air is avoided like the plague. Indoor air polution of all kinds is rampant. The question isn't for me if the problem exists, but if it was handled correctly, and the answer is a resounding NO.
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#11 Common Sense - Daytona Beach, FL - 1/31/2008 2:49:00 PM
Reply to #10 Citizen: The VTO's own Solidarity Report speaks volumes to those who seem to want to blame the victims. The following is a quote from the report that went to all VTO Union members members on January 28, 2008: "VTO is proud of our members who decided that something needed to be done with these extremely unhealthy conditions and pursued the issue to get a resolution. VTO continues to work with our members and is currently speaking with our attorneys to examine if the district violated any laws when they denied 2 members from seeking medical attention under workers compensation laws." It's obvious that those who find fault with the teachers' advocacy may be feeling a little defensive at this time. Talking about contract procedures at this point is only a distraction and possibly a displacement of guilt about not joining those teachers who used common sense when it came to guarding the safety and health of their students. I would question the level of caring of those who are fault finding now! Being critical is not leading to solutions; it reveals a lack of empathy and understanding of the problem.
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#12 Citizen - NSB - 1/31/2008 5:04:00 PM
Reply to #11 Common Sense: It HAS caused mistrust and resentment.
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#13 Fellow Teacher - California - 1/31/2008 10:04:00 PM
Reply to #10 Citizen: I am so pleased to see your Local Union President, for Volusia Teachers(VTO), spoke up and supported the teachers involved. I am a Vice President, serving on the "Excuetive Board" for my local Teachers Association, and also serve on "State Council" for the California Teachers Association. We are 340,000 members strong!
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#14 NoMoreSchoolMold - CA - 2/1/2008 6:07:00 PM
Reply to #11 Common Sense: Volusia Teachers Association - you are to be congratulated for doing what we rarely see anywhere in the nation, including CA: supporting your teachers who are exposed to toxic molds and sick buildings. The CA Teachers Association has been silent on this issue with its membership and ALL teachers exposed to damp buildings that we have heard from at The Center for School Mold Help. If a person is in danger, and others are also, it makes sense to do what must be done - keeping silent on these issues compounds the problem. Anyone who would endorse silence has motives other than concern for the health and welfare of others, we agree.
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#15 virtualmom - Daytona - 2/1/2008 6:13:00 PM
I am a parent of a 5 year old in one of the evacuated classrooms and can say that I am very THANKFUL these teachers spoke out. I send my child to school expecting the staff--everyone from the bottom up to the top--to act responsibly with regard to the safety (in this case) of MY child. Even though I put others in charge of her during school hours, it is still MY responsibility to make educated decisions on her behalf. For the administration to withhold information as they did, kept me from being able to ensure my child was breathing acceptably clean air! I am appalled at how this whole incident was handled. An informative, honest, well-written letter should have been sent home outlining the concerns and a detailing a plan of action (immediately ... not 2+ weeks AFTER the initial concerns, nor well AFTER media coverage). Just like in business, the true test of an establishment (or leader) is how a problem is overcome/resolved, and I have to say this time Longstreet failed to shine. This whole incident makes me distrust the school and wonder if the children's health is compromised like this, what else is going on that is being swept under the moldy rug? On a final note, I'm glad the problem is finally being handled (seemingly). Remember that even though we have guidelines, contracts, protocol, and various RULES, etc ... we DO NOT have to put blind faith in them; we have to voice up sometimes and trust our instincts. Again, I am THANKFUL the staff members stuck their necks out (an uncomfortable and risky decision, I'm sure) for the children.
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#16 Caged Canaries in Longstreet Mine - Daytona Beach, Florida - 2/2/2008 2:53:00 AM
Reply to #15 virtualmom: I was beginning to think all the parents were as irresponsible as the district managers who imperiled the safety of the children and employees at Longstreet Elementary. Then "Virtualmom" appeared out of nowhere to establish at least one responsible parent's appropriatley and politely stated outrage at the series of baffling wrong responses made by district. Where was the oversight process during the renovation? No air quality check done that would prevent children from being placed in a potentially lethal environment? "Virtualmom" is right to be cautious about the district's mold remediation efforts. Where are the other parents' messages of alarm? Don't they know their children are like caged canaries in a mine when a district demonstrates this kind of negligence?
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#16 Caged Canaries in Longstreet Mine - Daytona Beach, Florida - 2/2/2008 2:53:00 AM
Reply to #15 virtualmom: I was beginning to think all the parents were as irresponsible as the district managers who imperiled the safety of the children and employees at Longstreet Elementary. Then "Virtualmom" appeared out of nowhere to establish at least one responsible parent's appropriatley and politely stated outrage at the series of baffling wrong responses made by district. Where was the oversight process during the renovation? No air quality check done that would prevent children from being placed in a potentially lethal environment? "Virtualmom" is right to be cautious about the district's mold remediation efforts. Where are the other parents' messages of alarm? Don't they know their children are like caged canaries in a mine when a district demonstrates this kind of negligence?
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#17 'Toxic' mold found in classrooms.... - NSB - 2/2/2008 1:48:00 PM
Reply to #10 Citizen: Environmental reports from the School District prior to a written report from an Independent Environmental Company on Jan 25,2008, both conclude evidence of 'toxic' mold exposure in these classrooms. Toxic mold exposure is now a fact. The reports show the presence of the #1 toxic mold, Stachybotrys, along with extremely high levels of #2 toxic mold, Penicillim, and many others including high levels of the dangerous Aspergillus. (The District has referred to these 'toxic' molds as common molds. An accurate reference would be to state; the most common 'toxic' molds. There is definitely a difference.) You might ponder as to their reasoning for this. The 'toxic' molds are documented by various genre and will confirm that these molds are extremely dangerous; attacking lung tissues, respiratory disorders, causing cancer, skin allergies, infections in eyes/ears, kidney/liver diseases, and many more. The most dangerous level of 'toxic' mold combination has been identified(as per the Indep Environ report of 1/25/08), above referenced, to be in the classroom of the Teacher that had to leave mid-morning and seek emergency medical treatment, even though the highest mold count was linked to another classroom. It is comforting to have support as an advocate for removal of high levels of 'toxic' molds in these classrooms. But removal of children and Teachers in the same 'toxic' mold sites, as a top priority, should also be supported!!! Don't you agree? This was NOT done. All in these mold infected classrooms were not removed for several weeks. Children and Teacher(s)were becoming sick. After being told again and again that there was no real problem by personnel that was suppose to be protecting us, one teacher insisted that she had no choice but to relocate. The stink in her room could even be smelled outside & down the loggia, as the District chemically doused the area with 'quick-fix' attempts to clean-up the stink. This Teacher subsequently, has been diagnosed with mold exposure. Another moved after her breathing passageway constricted and had to seek emer med help..These two Teachers used good judgment by moving out of the infected classrooms thus, protecting the health and safety of the children. They were determined, even against hostility, to do so. Teachers that chose to stay in those infected classrooms after the others left, have only to question their own motives for doing so. They were given daily information & updates by their colleagues. Now that the FACTS are out, with regards to the written environmental results... negativity, especially from the teaching profession, concerning this issue causes grave concern...I can only wonder what ulterior motive(s) one would have for desperately protecting wrong doing???? It's my opinion, of course, that attacking ANY aspects of Teachers protecting the lives of 80+ children is simply absurd! FYI: #3, #8, #9, & #10...procedures were followed.... same also pertaining to VTO, as per Jan 28, 2008, Solidarity Report.
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#18 Misplaced Anger - Daytona Beach, FL - 2/2/2008 5:47:00 PM
Reply to #12 Citizen: Respect, Honest, Caring, and other terms can describe the 3 Teachers that saved all of these children from years of suffering by getting the toxic mold reported. But I'm perplexed with your comment of,"It has caused mistrust & resentment." Mistrust & resentment against whom? Mistrust for telling the TRUTH? Resentful because 2 wonderful caring individuals have been proven to be right? I think I'm confused with the usage of these two terms as they don't seem to be appropriate with the reporting of toxic mold. Is there something more emotional going on than teachers making the right decision about moving from a sick building? Is it possible to be feeling a little defensive about being so wrong and the HERO TEACHERS were right about the toxic, moldy, sick classrooms?? Is there possibly misplaced anger because of not moving to safety? Let go of the negative emotions, recognize that healthy solutions will evolve, and work on repairing any damage that may have occurred while being in the state of mind with mistrusting and resentful feelings. Remember that some people have the guts to stand on the TRUTH even when it's not comfortable to do so. As individuals, they have every right to make those kinds of moral judgment calls. I respect these 2 teachers for not failing the children.
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#19 Fellow Professional - Daytona Beach, FL - 2/2/2008 8:36:00 PM
Reply to #14 NoMoreSchoolMold: Thank-you CA for your valuable input, for sharing your professional views, and educational expertise with the FL professional community. Your interest in the matter at hand has really touched me. I appreciate the time you have taken out of your busy schedule to educate the readers and in every sense attempt to help resolve negativity surrounding children's health and safety. I am proud to know that there are some professionals that go above and beyond the call of duty to help resolve concerns.....thank-you!!!
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#20 NoMoreSchoolMold - La Mesa, CA - 2/3/2008 9:52:00 AM
Reply to #19 Fellow Professional: Dear Fellow Professional(s) and Parents of Longstreet School Students, At The Center for School Mold Help, an educational nonprofit where I am director, we care about students and staff - we want them to be healthy and learning - to be doing what they are there, in the educational setting[,] to do. Going to school to learn, teach, or work, should NOT involve becoming desperately ill and attacked for reporting unsafe environmental conditions. Yet, in the absence of laws to protect children and staff from toxic molds and water-damaged buildings (WDB's), chaotic and very dysfunctional reactions occur all across the United States (and other countries, like Canada, as well). This is unnecessary, but due to the lack of leadership by the CDC, all health authorities at the top levels in our country, and many legislators, who are well aware of these problems, but do not take action or pass laws out of fear for the economic impacts involved with prevention and fixing buildings. This myopic viewpoint ignores the fact that if we sicken (actually, poison) our children and school staff in moldy schools throughout the USA, we destroy our economy along with the health of these innocent victims. Molds produce poisons called mycotoxins, in addition to other very damaging chemicals. When you are trapped inside a building with the overgrowth of these "common toxic molds", it is the same as being inside a toxic chemical gas chamber. Our nation needs to step up and protect its children and school staff and admit the problems exist, protecting school occupants. We cannot leave this to local, politically motivated school administrators or school boards who receive their advice from school attorneys and risk managers. What you are experiencing is a national problem that occurs more often than not - and is causing a health epidemic. I hope the state of Florida will be wise enough to protect its citizens from toxic, water-damaged buildings, especially schools. The Center for School Mold Help (www.schoolmoldhelp.org) was founded and is overseen by a board made of primarily teachers disabled by mold in schools, who want to educate the public and offer solutions so that fewer people become ill from moldy schools. We wish you all well.    Report as offensive  |   Reply to this  | 
 

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Tests Confirm Mold In Elementary Classrooms
http://www.wesh.com/education/15173195/detail.html

POSTED: 8:47 am EST January 30, 2008
UPDATED: 8:57 am EST January 30, 2008

Test results from a Daytona Beach elementary school confirmed a mold problem on Tuesday.

Teachers said they became ill after moving into some newly renovated classrooms at Longstreet Elementary.

Officials learned those classrooms were exposed to weather conditions for about six months.
 

An environmental consultant from Orlando discovered high levels of common mold and mildew in four classrooms.

The rooms won't be used until all porous materials, including carpet, are replaced.

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Claire Metz (go to URL above).

(Note from SMH: High levels of a COMMON mold? The molds found can cause serious health effects. Stating it is "common" makes these molds sound harmless, which they aren't. Read our District Testing article on our About Testing page for information, and read about Aspergillus/Penicillium, found in high amounts in these classrooms. (Click the name of the fungi to view our Fungal Glossary, for health effects). These molds have been tested to the genus level, not to the species level, it would appear. Testing to the species level will derive the exact type of fungi, with more specific health effects. Click here to learn more. . .

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Go to http://www.schoolmoldhelp.org/content/view/1077/33/ for a Feb. 16th update on these classes in Daytona -  still showing a mold problem!

Daytona classrooms still show mold problem       
A second round of testing shows a continuing mold problem at Longstreet School, Daytona, FL, according to Dr. David Straus. SMH wonders if they are doing repairs only or a proper mold remediation. Go to our Information - Remediation page to see what this SHOULD look like. Carpentry and carpet removal and replacement do not constitute mold remediation and may explain the continued high mold spore counts as well as continued or new illness.

February 16, 2008

Mold still problem at Longstreet
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST04021608.htm

By LINDA TRIMBLE
Education Writer
DAYTONA BEACH -- A second round of tests in four renovated classrooms at Longstreet Elementary continued to show fungus and mold spores in the air, prompting school officials to put off a decision on if and when classes there would resume.

Two of the rooms showed higher spore counts in the Feb. 7 tests, according to a report released Friday, while the counts were down in two of the rooms. Outdoor air samples showed much higher spore counts the second time around.

The first air tests were taken Jan. 24 after three teachers reported a strong odor, respiratory irritations and other symptoms they believe are related to exposure to a moldy carpet that got wet during a recent renovation project.

Classes have been moved to other rooms, the carpet has since been replaced with vinyl tile and the rooms and air handlers have been cleaned.

Area Superintendent Stan Whitted said Friday school officials are awaiting a report from a Tampa consultant who visited the school Feb. 8 before deciding what to do next.

"The second report indicates there's still a mold problem," said David Straus, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Texas Tech University who has done extensive research on mold. He spoke in a telephone interview Friday after reviewing the Longstreet test results at the request of The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Robert Maglievaz, an environmental health specialist for the Volusia County Health Department, said Friday the rooms where the odor complaints originated appeared to be "in pretty good shape" when he inspected the school Feb. 8.

"I didn't see anything that concerned me in those rooms," he said in a Friday telephone interview. "They were spotless. I didn't detect any unusual odor. . . . There were no visual signs of mold."

Both Straus and Maglievaz said the key to solving indoor mold problems is identifying the source of moisture intrusion in the building and fixing it, then replacing any mold-contaminated materials.

While at Longstreet, Maglievaz conducted a semi-annual inspection of the entire school. His report, released Friday, turned up flaking paint on walkway covers and moisture damaged ceiling tiles and drywall in the media center and computer lab and "mold-like growth" in some areas of those rooms.

Repairs have already started, according to a school district response to his report.

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