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N. Idaho school district has mold concerns
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8625084&nav=menu554_2_1
Associated Press - July 6, 2008 3:24 PM ET
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) - Concern over mold and resulting allergy-like symptoms in a northern Idaho school district's main offices caused administrators to reverse their decision to move students into the building.
Two years ago, employees at the Coeur d'Alene School District office began reporting health problems they attributed to mold.
Even after the installation of a new ventilation system and the removal of a tree that blocked sunlight into the building, the Coeur d'Alene district has ditched plans to hold the Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities Advanced Learning Program in the building's conference room.
Sorensen Principal Jim Gray will meet with parents this summer to find an alternative location.
Travis Trent, manager of Spokane, Wash.-based Fulcrum Environmental Consulting, says, "Once there's a perception of a problem it becomes very, very difficult to address."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
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Coeur d'Alene school district has mold concerns
The Idaho Statesman*
The Associated Press
07/07/08
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/434970.html
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Concern over mold and resulting allergy-like
symptoms in a northern Idaho school district's main offices caused
administrators to reverse their decision to move students into the
building.
Two years ago, employees at the Coeur d'Alene School District office
began reporting health problems they attributed to mold. State tests
revealed air contaminant levels slightly higher than those outside -
the air quality industry's standard measurement for clean air.
While an industrial hygienist with the state of Idaho said there was
little reason for concern, the district contracted with a Spokane-
based company to reassess the building in 2007 after problems
persisted.
Now, even after the installation of a new ventilation system and the
removal of a tree that blocked sunlight into the building, the Coeur
d'Alene district has ditched plans to hold the Sorensen Magnet
School for the Arts and Humanities Advanced Learning Program in the
building's conference room. Sorensen Principal Jim Gray will meet
with parents this summer to find an alternative location.
"Once there's a perception of a problem it becomes very, very
difficult to address," said Travis Trent, manager of Spokane's
Fulcrum Environmental Consulting Inc., who conducted the tests on
the Coeur d'Alene district offices. "It kind of ranks up there with
pollen and cat dander. If you're allergic, you're going to have some
problems. If you're not, you're not."
Trent's workers didn't find mold, but he said he knew something was
causing employees to report itchy eyes, scratchy throats and other
symptoms: A Fulcrum employee experienced similar symptoms within
minutes of entering the building.
After weeks of examination and research, he recommended the district
examine its heating system.
"My suspicion is, it's extremely unlikely that there's a condition
that would be problematic for children," Trent said. "That being
said, just given the fact that we've had concerns in that building
and that it's an older building, if someone called and said, 'Hey,
we want to move a classroom there,' I would certainly express
concern."
About one in four people are allergic to mold or other air
contaminants.
In northern Idaho, suspected mold allergies have arisen at other
schools, too, teachers say.
Wendy Conner, a Sandpoint teacher, left her post at Farmin-Stidwell
Elementary School after a mysterious smell that began in 2006
affected her health so much her doctor ordered her not to return to
the building - even after she moved to a classroom on the other side
of the school and long after the district declared the problem
solved.
"I was sick every day I was there," she said. "I felt that I was
losing my mind."
She transferred to another school last year and the symptoms haven't
reoccurred. |
