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Popular teacher, Jeff Corn, says the school building made him deathly ill.
Mold Attacks: Phoenix Area Teacher Discovers The Building Was Killing Him
Mold Attacks! Feature in the Phoenix New Times, by Robert Nelson, Oct. 13, 2005
"Jeff Corn says the school building made him deathly ill."
"Water and mold damage have been common at Mesquite."
"Medical pathologist Dr. William Croft says mycotoxins from mold "can affect every cell in the body."
Jeff Corn, a coach and PE teacher in Gilbert, AZ, feels that 15 years of suffering was caused by mold in his school,
Mesquite Junior High. The wall right next to his desk was described as "one of the worst spots", as "the gym was full
of mold and asbestos".
"He continues to be plagued with odd ailments, so much so that he felt he could no longer work by autumn, 2004. He
can't sleep, then he sleeps for days at a time. His memory is hit-and-miss; he has trouble concentrating. He now has
no medical insurance and no job. He recently sold his home to free up money for living and medical costs..."
Some Letters From the (Phoenix New Times) Issue of Thursday, October 27, 2005
Published: Thursday, October 27, 2005
Molden Days
Lies and more lies:
I have children at Mesquite Junior High School, and I didn't want to believe what I read in New Times about the
black mold problem ("Mold Attacks!," Robert Nelson, October 13). The health problems you describe from black mold
poisoning are scaring parents and students to death. Of course, I was one of the parents who went to school district
officials, and they said any problem had been solved. They weren't even admitting any mold was ever even at the
school, but if there was, it's gone now. Nobody thinks the Gilbert school district is telling the truth about this, after
what we read in your newspaper. All the lies that were told over the years are just staggering! And all these lies
were at the expense of our children and their teachers to save the district from liability. We just hope you will stay on
this problem at Mesquite and at other schools, because the district doesn't plan to lift a finger to address our
complaints. Please do not use my name because I'm afraid the school will take things out on my kids.
Name withheld by request
Do the right thing:
Poor Jeff Corn! He's just lucky that New Times writer Robert Nelson finally listened to his story and decided to take
some action. What has happened to this teacher is outrageous!
And isn't this the typical reaction of a frightened bureaucracy. The Gilbert school district simply doesn't want to admit
that the moldy Mesquite Junior High School building could have been afflicting teachers and students. It would cost
the district too much money to pay off the lawsuits. Anyway, New Times, thanks for giving voice to the voiceless,
once again. Maybe Jeff can finally get the help he needs, and maybe this school district and others will be shamed
into doing the right thing.
Paulette Hoover, via the Internet
He shall overcome:
The "Mold Attacks!" story brought back horrible memories that I've been trying to forget and physically overcome.
Every symptom mentioned in the story brings back these thoughts. I was working in a building that was later found to
have mold in it. I was the most active, healthiest guy any of my friends and family knew, and all of a sudden, on
August 26, 2002, I started not feeling so well. The next three months turned into the worst three months I have ever
experienced. There were times when I had temperatures well over 105, and I couldn't move my arms and legs or
even have the strength to open my eyes. All of this happened to me five years after competing in the Collegiate
Division III National Track & Field meet as a hurdler.
I had no clue what was going on until finally coming across a Web site that linked mold to many of my symptoms. I
went to doctors who didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I had a blood test and chest x-rays, only to have a
doctor tell me that I was the healthiest person he had seen.
For a whole year I had a hard time sleeping. Then, I had a hard time waking up when I would sleep. Every time I
went to bed, I was scared that I might never wake up.
I came to Arizona to give a drier climate a chance. I still have some health troubles, but just being able to get back to
somewhat of a normal life has made me enjoy the days when I do feel well and have energy. I may not be able run
a race again, but at least I'm able to go to bed without the fear of dying. Chad Knutson, Phoenix
Biohazard warning: Thank you so much for writing the "Mold Attacks!" article! We have a school with a history that's
very comparable to Mesquite Junior High's. Many bandages have been put on the building here, including some
remediation of molds. There has been a ton of testing that always shows high levels of molds.
I have two children who had to be removed from the building because their health was failing badly. My son seems
to have escaped without the long-term injuries that our daughter seems to have sustained. She has many of the same
symptoms mentioned in your story and has been in and out of schools for the past six years.
She has been through a lot: the mental trauma of people thinking her parents are crazy, people saying she needs to
"toughen up," and her constantly wondering if she will be well enough to go on class trips, to games, be present on
testing days and be able to make good on plans with friends. She has not been the same since she spent a year in
the middle school I mention.
My husband and I have researched various molds for the past six years and find it quite scary that she may never
fully recover. Respiratory problems, severe fatigue, low platelets leading to severe bloody noses, racing pulse,
migraines and joint aches are just some of the symptoms that she has had to deal with. As parents, we feel helpless
because there's supposedly no scientific proof that molds can cause such symptoms. There are very few doctors who
will deal with these issues. And, until recently, there were limited resources where one could find out about molds,
mycotoxins and trichothecenes.
The school says everything has been cleaned and is fine. But I get many calls every year from people like myself
who're desperate about their children's health, because their kids are so sick and can't find help. I don't want to ever
have to tell another parent that they must get their child out of the particular school if mold problems are happening
there!
I've learned from all of this that my husband and I are certainly not alone in this fight; people all over the country are
dealing with health issues because of mold. Especially school mold issues!
I have also realized that I foolishly completely trusted school officials to follow all health guidelines necessary to
keep my children safe from environmental hazards.
Loni Eid, Montevideo, Minnesota
and the full, unedited letter sent to the editor by The Center for School Mold Help:
As the Executive Director and Founder of The Center for School Mold Help, I invite concerned staff, parents, and
community members to visit our website at www.schoolmoldhelp.org, where you will find free resources and
comprehensive information to help answer your questions. I invite you to email me at
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,
also, if you have any additional questions.
The school mold scenario described in Mold Attacks is, unfortunately, a frequent occurrance, nationally. Learning
more about mold, solutions and options for teachers and parents can assist local groups who are working on these
problems.
What Mr. Corn described is absolutely credible - visit our website to read, on the Sick Building Survey, and on the
Research page, what the typical symptoms are.
Mr. Corn, and community, I hope you will visit our site and to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Susan Brinchman
Executive Director
The Center for School Mold Help
www.schoolmoldhelp.org
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