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Wisconsin Family Suffers from School Mold and Champions School IAQ Bill (SB 325)
This is an example of what one family accomplished, thus far, in the state capitol of Wisconsin, following a school mold exposure that their 9 year old daughter became ill from, despite the lack of progress at their local school.
Click here to read Jeanne Black's Wisconsin Senate IAQ Speech
Read a description of the proposed WI legislation by clicking here and click here to read the full text of SB 325.
Photo taken in May of 2006, of interior school air vent at Mrs. Black's daughter's Wisconsin school, Darlington Middle and Elementary School, built in 1996, where some inspections have claimed the school air to be healthy. Jade became very ill at this elementary school, at the age of nine (she is now in high school), and problems still exist at this local school. Mrs. Black feels that once the school IAQ legislation is passed in her state, with accountability, things may improve. There are still parents reporting sick children in this school and children who can not attend this school with doctors orders. This photo shows the extent of some of the problems. Scroll down to view test results (Aug. 2006) from district bulk sample of this vent, received in June, 2006. Aspergillus niger was the predominant fungi (mold) found. Click Aspergillus niger to read about the health effects and mycotoxins produced.
Click here to participate in a School Mold Forum to view more pics and discuss this school's problems and interact with others!
Read a description of the proposed WI legislation, inspired by Darlington's school mold problems, by clicking here and click here to read the full text of SB 325.
Scroll, below, to read a newspaper Forum in the Monroe Times Plus, The Monroe Times, Monroe, WI, where local citizens discuss this school's problems, called Blossoms and Barbs
http://www.channel3000.com/news/7520385/detail.html
Family Backs Bill To Monitor, Fix Air Quality Problems In Schools
Lawmakers To Vote On Measure On Tuesday
UPDATED: 8:00 pm CST February 27, 2006
MADISON, Wis. -- A Darlington-area family is heading to the state Capitol on Tuesday with hopes of improving the air quality in Wisconsin schools.
Their campaign was spurred by the life-threatening experience that their daughter went through because of the air that she was breathing in the classroom.
This is an issue where many children can function just normally in the classroom environments they're in, but for some, high levels of mold, carbon dioxide, poor ventilation and other air quality issues can create serious health concerns.
Dick and Jeanne Black and their daughter Jade will head to the Capitol as legislators prepare to vote a piece of legislation that they support, Senate bill 325. Under the bill, an indoor air quality task force would oversee new school construction while helping remediate existing building problems, WISC-TV reported.
"I'm excited and nervous at the same time," Dick Black said.
"We hope it will make a big difference in the health and the safety for our students," Jeanne Black said.
Their crusade began when Jade kept getting sick while attending classes inside the 9-year-old Darlington Elementary and Middle School.
"(Jade) was diagnosed with severe mold induced asthma," Jeanne Black said.
The Blacks said that the illness produced severe symptoms in their daughter.
"She also had headaches, migraines, blurred vision, rashes on her face, stomach aches, nausea," they said.
Dick Black said that they couldn't identify what it was causing her symptoms, but they finally learned it was "sick building syndrome." Under doctor's orders, Jade transferred to Belmont and her health has returned and she is an honors student.
"She's our healthy daughter back again," Jeanne Black said.
While their daughter is now OK, the Blacks' concern is now for other susceptible Wisconsin children who they believe are also getting sick from tightly-sealed, newer schools, WISC reported.
"We couldn't get any help locally," Dick Black said. "We just kept hitting, running in to walls, and finally decided something has to be done, 'And let's take this on.'"
The Blacks have hung a handmade plaque in their dining room to the successful effort thus far.
"You don't need people in numbers," Jeanne Black said. "If you approach it in a diplomatic way, you can try to make a difference, and you can show your children how you can make a difference."
The superintendent of Darlington schools said that air testing has been done and no serious issues have been identified.
However, a Wisconsin Education Association Council survey has identified at least 80 state schools with air quality problems, WISC-TV reported.
Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
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Senators Pass Bill Regulating Indoor Air Quality In Schools
Legislation Now Headed To Assembly
http://www.channel3000.com/education/7559234/detail.html
UPDATED: 2:46 pm CST March 1, 2006
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would monitor indoor air quality at schools around the state.
The measure, Senate bill 235, was championed by Jeanne and Dick Black, of Darlington, after their 9-year-old daughter Jade became ill from what they said that poor air quality at her school.
They said that Jade was diagnosed with severe mold-induced asthma and suffered headaches, migraines, blurred vision, rashes on her face, stomach aches and nausea while attending Darlington Elementary and Middle School. The symptoms subsided when she transferred to another school under doctor's orders.
The superintendent of Darlington schools said that air testing has been done and no serious issues have been identified.
While some students aren't affected by problems like high levels of mold, carbon dioxide and poor ventilation, other students suffer from symptoms similar to the Blacks' daughter, WISC-TV reported.
The Blacks came to the state Capitol on Tuesday to support the legislation. They said that they backed the bill so as to make sure it didn't happen to other Wisconsin children, WISC-TV reported.
The new bill calls for a task force to oversee new building construction while fixing problems in existing schools.
According to the Wisconsin Education Association Council, 80 schools in the state have air quality problems. They include Chavez and Midvale Elementary in Madison, Edgerton High School, Marshall Elementary School, Webb Middle School in Reedsburg, and Black Earth Elementary in the Wisconsin Heights District. Other districts cited without a specific school listed include Adams-Friendship, Boscobel, Columbus, Cuba City, Monticello, Palmyra-Eagle, Poynette, Rio and Wisconsin Dells, WISC-TV reported.
The measure is now headed to the state Assembly.
Previous Story:
February 27, 2006: Family Backs Bill To Monitor, Fix Air Quality Problems In Schools
Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Blossoms and Barbs Discussion
Blossoms and Barbs Commentary in The Monroe Times, Wisconsin
Re: Darlington Elementary/Middle School Mold
http://www.themonroetimes.com/v0602blo.htm
A barb to Joanne Kohl, who wrote in about the "allegations about Darlington Elementary/Middle School's supposed
air quality issues." Ms. Kohl obviously does not have all of the information and test results documenting a definite air
quality and mold problem in this structure. We would have to assume that she is just misinformed, uneducated on the
subject, and getting all of her information from the Darlington school district. Had she done an independent
investigation of her own as the Blacks and several other families have done, she would never have written her
comments on the subject. The facts are that this school district is denying doctor's orders, handing out test reports
with many pages missing, and giving the local newspaper false information. It is a fact that every one of the 12-plus
students with previous mold induced illnesses that have been removed from this building currently show no
symptoms. Another fact is the evidence of structural damage on the outside of this 10-year-old building called
efflourescence, which is caused by excessive moisture inside the walls. I hope that this is an educational experience
for Ms. Kohl and that she takes a good look at the health hazards that exist in her place of employment. --
Anonymous
A blossom to Darlington Elementary Middle School Principal Michele Savatski for, after four years of stating "there is
no mold in this school," finally admitting there has been an ongoing problem and many complaints.
A barb to Michelle Savatski for stating she never received physician's orders for children to be removed from DEMS
due to poor air quality and mold issues. We provided a physician's statement that our child be removed from the
environment along with other families physicians statements. -- Dick and Jeanne Black, Darlington
http://www.themonroetimes.com/v0609blo.htm
1. A blossom to the editor and reporter of the article regarding the health of Jade Black. It is refreshing to have a
newspaper that is willing to provide to its readers information that can be life-saving for all children. It is obvious that
the actions of Jade's parents to remove her from an environment that was making her ill saved her life and has
stopped the continual effects from progressing. While we probably can all make excuses as to why someone is
having illnesses while in a particular situation, where is the analogy that someone is now healthy and without
medication once the exposure to a particular environment was stopped? This has not only been the case with Jade,
but many children and adults. The closed-mindedness and fear on the part of the Darlington school administration
and school board, and some teaching staff, is harming the health of students, staff and volunteers. Providing this
information to the public allows parents to ask, question, seek and think about what is happening with their
children's health, their tax dollars, and if all is being done to provide children a healthy environment. – Anonymous
2. A barb to xxx and her anonymous support group regarding her issues with the Darlington school air quality. First, I
know both Mrs. Savatski and Mrs. Kohl. Neither deserves the abuse you have been heaping on them, both in and out
of the newspaper. Second, if you have all of this evidence, then either you have not shared it with the proper
authorities or you have shared it and they don't think it has merit. If they closed the case on the issue, then that
should be enough. Or are they in the pocket of the Darlington district somehow, too? Finally, if the officials at
Darlington all are participating in some major cover-up, then why would the school board members send their
children to the school every day, and why would the administrators work in that building? I'd sign my name, but I'll
take the cowardly way out because I don't need your xxxxx turned on me. -- Anonymous
SMH Note: The last comment shows someone (who doesn't get it) feeling defensive about Darlington parents
reporting their children being ill and reporting an obviously “sick school” with lots of sick kids whose doctors have
ordered them to leave the school for health’s sake (and who recovered their health by doing so). Obviously this is
bothering someone greatly. Is telling the truth about a school environment a problem? What should these parents do
– but warn others and try to get the problem solved? Two sets of testing (district and parent) also show dangerous
toxic molds in the school air ducts. What a pity that there is so much defense going on in this district. Responsible,
effective problem-solving would be what is needed. We only see this conduct in the school districts that make no
progress in solving problems. We recommend that NIOSH be called in by the teacher union to investigate or that
local parents hire an expert to inspect the inside of the school for mold.
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