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In Houston, a Key Middle School tour involving U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, prompts a call for EPA and CDC review of the testing, with continuing, major school IAQ concerns. The principal there is described as one of the ill adults.
Key Middle School principal Mable Caleb, center, and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, tour the campus on Monday with other officials. In recent weeks, several employees and students at the school have reported ailments.
Steve Ueckert: Chronicle
Sept. 18, 2007, 10:37AM
EPA official says mold at HISD school cause for concern
Elected leaders take a tour of Key Middle School
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5142952.html
By ERICKA MELLON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES
HFD's Sept. 14 walk-through
http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/09/17/keymiddleschoolfirereport2091407.pdf
ICU Environmental, Health & Safety report
http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/09/17/keymiddleschoolicureport091307.pdf
HFD hazardous material incident report
http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/09/17/KeyMiddleSchoolfirereport0914.pdf
A director with the Environmental Protection Agency said he saw some "potentially problematic" moldy areas at Key Middle School during a brief tour Monday.
"There's some areas that look suspicious, and a qualified professional, a mold expert, should look at them," said David Neleigh, who runs the federal agency's environmental lab in Houston.
At the request of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, officials with the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they will meet with school officials and review whether more tests are needed at the northeast Houston campus — where several employees and students have reported ailments over the last three weeks.
Houston Independent School District officials repeated assertions Monday that numerous air-quality tests show the 50-year-old school is safe. And despite Jackson Lee's request, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra does not plan to relocate the staff and 600 or so students at Key, said district spokeswoman Rebecca Suarez.
Wearing masks
At the beginning of the tour, Jackson Lee placed a hospital mask over her mouth and handed out masks to others.
"I'm not being dramatic," the Houston Democrat said. "I just can't afford to be sick. ... I think it's important to err on the side of cautiousness."
The school's principal, Mable Caleb, has been wearing a special filtered mask for days. Her face has been swelling up, and her doctor suspects she is having an allergic reaction to something, she said.
The tour included a stop in a counselor's office, where a bulletin board showed several spots of what appeared to be mold. Demetrius Scott, the counselor, had placed an air filter near his desk.
"Yeah, I'm very concerned about my health, but we still have a job to do," he said.
Robert Robertson, HISD's general manager of facilities, said the bulletin board would be removed later that afternoon.
"It was discovered on Friday and should have been gone," he said.
No serious problems found
A private consulting company hired by HISD has found no serious air problems after collecting 47 air samples since early September and inspecting almost every space at the school on Friday. The Woodlands-based company, ICU Environmental, Health & Safety, has done work for other school districts, plus major oil companies and the federal government.
Also Monday, the district received a letter from the Houston Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Team that said the team found no airborne chemical hazards during tests last week.
But since late August, at least nine teachers from Key have been taken in ambulances to hospitals and seven janitors have gone to the hospital. Most have reported difficulty breathing and watery eyes, while others have experienced skin rashes, headaches and nausea.
A growing number of parents also have raised concerns that something at Key is making their children sick.
After about 30 minutes at Key, Jackson Lee said she wasn't feeling well. State Rep. Harold Dutton concurred after walking into a computer room.
"I walked into this building, and my sinuses immediately did something," said Dutton, a Houston Democrat. "I don't know what it was."
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The following are comments from the URL above, these are included as a fyi for SMH site visitors - you can see what the local people are thinking about this topic, for better or worse.
NoMoreSchoolMold wrote:
www.schoolmoldhelp.org is a wealth of resources that explains why moldy schools such as Key Middle School make people ill. Visit our FAQ and Mold Research pages, among others.
9/18/2007 1:21:57 PM
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cmahfouz wrote:
Pu-Lease!!! I saw Jackson Lee and her entourage on the news last night. Dutton actually said that he hoped his wearing a mask didn't traumatize the students! If he were truly concerned about scarring those children, then either he should not have worn the mask or he should have stayed outside. And the principal is wearing a mask all the time, but her doctor says she's having an alergic reaction to something b/c her face is swelling? Perhaps she's allergic to the mask or it is too tight? This was nothing more than grand standing by Jackson Lee and her cronies. This building has been checked out by numerous experts who have found NOTHING! Has anyone asked the question why all the alleged sick folks are of the same ethnicity? There are more than one ethnic group represented in this school, but all these teachers and janitors are of the same ethnicity. Think about it. I see a baseless lawsuit coming. Next we'll see Quanell X the loser on the news with all his mad-at-the-world New Black Panthers standing behind him. Good grief, what a farce!
9/18/2007 12:57:42 PM
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ballardlawfirm wrote:
SJL in her mask is the frigging funniest thing I've seen on TV in a long time. MASS HYSTERIA. THE POWER OF PERSUASION. GET A LIFE.
9/18/2007 12:52:04 PM
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tntisch wrote:
I think it is interesting that so many are complaining about buildings that are 50 to 60 years old. There are so many other places in this country where buildings are used that are still schools and are 100+ years old and don't get the complaints that are seen here in Houston on buildings half that age.
9/18/2007 12:08:16 PM
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Jose1 wrote:
"There's some areas that look suspicious, and a qualified professional, a mold expert, should look at them," said David Neleigh,
I thought they already did that four times.
9/18/2007 11:59:51 AM
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mexneck wrote:
I don't agree with Rep. Lee very much, but she plays hard for her team. I respect that. I certainly do not blame the teachers for doing anything they can to get a new school. It's better to be in a new school building than an old one.
9/18/2007 11:14:03 AM
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tntisch wrote:
OLT
I did not state that the constituents in here district were not primarily minorities. I simply stated I have never seen her pandering without people of the exact same ethnicity as herself. If she wants to pander better then she should include other minorities in her cadre of cronies and butt kissers.
I am fully aware of the ethnic makeup of her district.
9/18/2007 11:00:03 AM
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tntisch wrote:
NITSIRK
Reread the article. Nowhere did it say that the EPA is coming in. What it said was that a representative of the EPA said the district should get in contact with a mold expert.
I don't think people are denying that there may be an issue or that environmental allergies exist. What is being argued is the severity of what may be present and the reactions of a handful of teachers and janitors.
Typically the EPA does not perform any services like a contractor would. The EPA is a regulatory body and when they do perform sampling activities they are as confirmatory and comparitive samples with the firm performing sampling activities. Further, this is not something the EPA would get involved in. It would be the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that might step in, but not likely.
9/18/2007 10:54:43 AM
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KlausVonStein wrote:
"After about 30 minutes at Key, Jackson Lee said she wasn't feeling well."
Sorry Mrs Jackson Lee but I'm going to have to call "bull5h!t" on that one.
9/18/2007 10:48:36 AM
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OLT57 wrote:
Tntisch , you are so off base here ! Did you forget to take your medication or forgot to keep your therapist appointment this morning ? The majority of the people in Ms. Lee's district are minorities ! GET A LIFE !
9/18/2007 10:45:44 AM
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grthac wrote:
Charles: No, I don't think the school at this point should be torn down nor do I feel at this point that the teachers are grandstanding. SJ to me has no bearing on this. I do feel at this time, there might be something more here than meets the eye.
9/18/2007 10:40:49 AM
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ztroop wrote:
The kids are not sick because of the immunity (of B.S) they have acquired from their existing environment.
9/18/2007 10:37:39 AM
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nitsirk wrote:
There is a problem at Key Middle School whether Sheila Jackson Lee is there or not. The principal is wearing a mask because of allergic reactions to something. Environmental allergies are real. The source of the problem needs to be found. People died of the plague and no one knew why for a long time. It was the fleas on rats. Then there was Cholera and no one knew what that was either but it was real. This is real and it is dangerous. Just because known tests have turned up nothing does not mean that there is nothing wrong with the building. Polio was real. It took lot of time and research to find the cause. I am glad the EPA is coming in. I think that HISD is taking too big a risk in assuming there is nothing wrong with the building and essentially calling their employees liars. They need to keep looking for the cause of these illnesses. They are playing Russian Roulette with the lives of personnel and the lives of the children in their care. They should be seeking to find solutions not just to get off the hook of responsibility.
9/18/2007 10:33:56 AM
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holendhead wrote:
Its great Ms. Lee is championing the cause of camera time. I'm not an expert but doen't mold related issues come from prolonged exposure? Last I checked 30 min isn't prolonged Shiela.
I love the mask to bad you couldn't stuff it in your mouth so the rest of us don't have to be infected by your verbal mold.
9/18/2007 10:33:16 AM
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WhatWhoWhenWhyHow wrote:
Mold on peanuts causes cancer.
A certain mold on bread causes cancer.
Did they make a whole in the wall and take a sample in thoe offices?
Did they check the cooling system for mold and legionaires?
I had been to a couple of schools where the classrooms smell like mold. Is it not the principals job to ensure the health and well being of the student body? The main admin building was torn down and built somewhere new why can't they build a safe building for the students? There are federal laws at the dept. of education. Education is an ongoing evolution of learning and making better. Who dropped the ball?
9/18/2007 10:27:38 AM
Trains682 wrote:
No, the students aren't sick yet. They are too young to know how to game the system yet . . . . .
9/18/2007 10:25:51 AM
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teacherattorney wrote:
We could solve all the problems at Key by convincing President Bush to come to the school and announce: "Mission Accomplished!" Then send in Blackwater and allow them to shoot to kill any kids or teachers who appear ill and get near them. Knee-jerk reactionaries have done such a great job with Iraq, I'm sure they will have no problem ignoring any potential health hazards close to home.
9/18/2007 10:23:18 AM
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Govchance wrote:
Mold dangerous? The most dangeroust place in the world to be is between Sheila ( red dress ) Jackson-Lee and a TV camera. While the other politicans are out actually doing work for their constituents, Ms. Lee is running from camera event to camera event seeking face time in the media.
Govchance.
9/18/2007 10:21:42 AM
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Whatschools wrote:
I gess the Censors don’t like the truth.
Abe – I hope you paid attention to details.
Does this sound like Priscilla Slade's logic?
"I obviously made some mistakes in Corpus Christi in not paying attention to the details, and I should have paid more attention to that," Saavedra said. "I think that blew up into a much bigger thing than it should have blown up."
So Abe inadvertently charges $20,000,00 to $30,000,00 to the taxpayers, that should have been out of HIS pocket-
The public also learned of $14,000 paid with taxpayer money for maintaining
Saavedra’s personal vehicles.
His excuse is “"When we budget, we don't have conversations in the $20,000- 35,000 range," Saavedra said, "We talk about hundreds of thousands, millions.”
Abe – the school district doesn’t budget for your PERSONNEL EXPENSES, so do you think you can just take what you like? Isn’t that what happened at TSU?
It was during his tenure at Corpus Christi ISD that Saavedra faced charges of tampering with a government document and theft by a public servant.
He also allegedly purchased alcohol using a district credit card, calling it a meal. However, a jury acquitted the educator, who was only required to pay a $100 fine.
“District Attorney Carlos Valdez said Saavedra should have cleared up the matter under oath in the court of inquiry.’
Saavedra used his Fifth Amendment privilege and did not testify.
Perhaps you might have done as District Attorney Carlos Valdez suggested-
“A question of trust
Perhaps Abe Saavedra just had the bad luck to be the first in what is turning out to be a long list of ethical question marks. The FORMER superintendent of the Corpus Christi Independent School District endured months of controversy and public scrutiny, not to mention an indictment, trial and finally an acquittal of charges that, basically, he took advantage of his office.
Nevertheless, his career in Corpus Christi was finished and he decided to change scenery by moving to Houston.”
http://www.caller2.com/1999/december/31/today/local_ne/4416.html
http://www.caller2.com/2000/april/01/today/local_ne/3955.html
http://www.caller2.com/2000/april/01/today/local_ne/3955.html
http://www.caller2.com/2001/june/17/today/nickjime/3012.html
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou041209_Jt_saavedra.252a3f47.html
9/18/2007 2:25:37 AM
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9/18/2007 10:17:31 AM
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tntisch wrote:
OLT
the people in River Oaks may pay people to complain for them, but they are at least taking part in the process instead of keeping quiet and hoping that someone may give them a handout and do something for them instead of taking initiative on their own.
I have never once seen Sheila Jackson-Lee pioneer a cause for anybody other than her black constituents or have anybody with her of any other ethnicity other than african-American. A congress person should represent all of their consituents and not just a portion of them.
People have the ability to raise themselves out of situations if they want to do so. Will it take a while? Sure it will. Will it take longer than 6 months to a year? Sure it will, that is where the perseverance and drive comes in. I know people who have been working on getting a college degree, simply an undergrad for about 8 years or so, because they are doing it one or two classes at a time because that is all they can afford, but they are still doing it while working a full time barely better than minimum wage job.
This whole, the poor will be poor and always will be is a common myth perpetuated in those areas because it has been engrained in them through their culture of less-to-do and always expect to be poor.
You take a negative person who is always waiting for the shoe to drop and watch their life and it will be a constant series of defeats and depreciations. You take an optimistic person who is continuously upbeat, and whatch their life, they will have some upsets along the way, but overall they are going to constantly have positive results that perpetuate their optimism.
9/18/2007 10:17:22 AM
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kalki wrote:
Is there any event that Lee won't grandstand at? She is the definition of the word "ham". You can't have an event anywhere in the city that she won't show up at just to get her picture in the paper. She is the Hugo Chavez of our country--saying anything because she loves her own voice best of all.
9/18/2007 10:16:59 AM
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OLT57 wrote:
I AGREE THAT IT IS HELL TO BE POOR ! I BET IF ALL OF YOU SKEPTICS HAD OR SUSPECTED MOLD IN YOUR WORKPLACE , YOU WOULD COMPLAIN ALSO ! JUST GO AND SPEND A DAY AT KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL BEFORE YOU POST YOUR BIAS COMMENTS ! AS FOR AS REP.SHELIA JACKSON LEE IS CONCERN , SHE IS THE MOST VISIBLE CONGRESSPERSON I KNOW FROM THE HOUSTON AREA ... DOING WHAT OTHER CONGRESSPERSONS SHOULD BE DOING ! BEING THERE FOR THE PEOPLE ! WHILE I AM VENTING , THE PEOPLE IN RIVER OAKS PAY OTHERS TO COMPLAIN FOR THEM ! AGAIN , IT IS HELL TO BE POOR !
9/18/2007 10:01:39 AM
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TradeLidgeAlready wrote:
>>After about 30 minutes at Key, Jackson Lee said she wasn't feeling well. State Rep. Harold Dutton concurred after walking into a computer room.
"I walked into this building, and my sinuses immediately did something," said Dutton, a Houston Democrat. "I don't know what it was."<<
Yeah right. But then again, we elect Democrats to be drama queens.
9/18/2007 9:58:26 AM
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TradeLidgeAlready wrote:
>>At the beginning of the tour, Jackson Lee placed a hospital mask over her mouth and handed out masks to others.
"I'm not being dramatic," the Houston Democrat said.<<
ROFLOL
9/18/2007 9:56:38 AM
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loopdeloo wrote:
The kind of mold that makes you sick can't always be seen. My best friend moved into her home and within two months, the whole family just had a nonstop cold, what seemed like a cold anyway. After six months of doctors visits and trying to get better, a doctor recommended having the drywall tested. They thought it was strange but did it anyway. And sure enough, the inside of the drywall was completely soaked through and covered with a type of mold that is more common for respiratory problems. They ended up having to remodel the kitchen, dining room, family room and bathroom and in that discovered a pipe that had been leaking for who knows how long.
Suffice it to say, air quality tests weren't enough, they had to check the drywall.
And they live in California - so imagine a wet, humid climate like ours compared to dry and hot like hers. Mold IS a problem here, but it affects everyone differently.
I think this is maybe going overboard, but at the same time, what's the problem with taking the kids out of this school on the side of caution? Yes, it probably means inconvenience for their parents in having to drive further or whatever, but isn't their safety important enough? I don't understand why the district is fighting that aspect so hardly. Makes me wonder what we are not being told.
Now Sheila Jackson-Lee, though, I'm surprised she wasn't wearing her jeans and a t-shirt while comdemning others for their dress. Yep. Wrong masks. Dahraaaammmaaa.
9/18/2007 9:53:11 AM
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BetterGenes wrote:
The kids will get sick... they are almost as susceptible as the union members to hysteria. Seriously, if you tell them over and over that people around them are getting sick, eventually they will. It's the power of suggestion.
I feel sorry for them caught up in this union/political grandstanding, too.
9/18/2007 9:47:46 AM
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katiemac wrote:
Here we go again. The Teachers unions and Sheila, living life according to the "Victim's Handbook". It has nothing to do with any actual disease except hysteria. Sheila is a fine one to champion any and all causes for her constituents, provided, of course, they are black constituents, the rest of us living in her district don't officially exist.
9/18/2007 9:46:45 AM
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BetterGenes wrote:
I actually feel most sorry for the poor EPA guy. Nutcase Congresswoman drags you to a site, makes you give an opinion for her grandstanding. What do you do? You give a milquetoast opinion that is just enough to keep the Congressnut off your agency's back at the next round of appropriations... and get the hell away from her.
9/18/2007 9:43:49 AM
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tntisch wrote:
Moblack:
At this point there have been no reports of any of the students being sick or coming down with any of the symptoms of the teachers and janitors. At least none that I have seen in any media coverage.
9/18/2007 9:43:24 AM
Moblack wrote:
Have any of the kids been sick?
9/18/2007 9:34:20 AM
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tntisch wrote:
BetterGenes:
Could you please not sully the name of someone who is as highly regarded as Larry, Moe, and Curly are by placing Sheila Jackson-Lee in the same sentence as the other three, or even Shemp for that matter.
9/18/2007 9:27:01 AM
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dancefan21 wrote:
I bet if even the toilet paper at the HISD admin offices is "too harsh" heads
roll! This sounds too much like the smokers who dismiss the non-smokers
complaints because smoke doesn't bother them.
9/18/2007 9:26:37 AM
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tntisch wrote:
Perhaps, and this is just speculation on behalf of a teacher at Key Middle school, perhaps a meteor struck the area of the school.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070918/sc_afp/peruhealthoffbeat
Disclaimer: This was not a serious speculation at all, nor have I talked with anybody at the school. This was simply meant as SATIRE.
9/18/2007 9:25:50 AM
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BetterGenes wrote:
Sheila Jackson-Lee may be the most idiotic grandstanding nincompoop on this planet.
The masks she handed out and wore herself are designed to protect OTHERS from pathogens in HER mouth and nose, not to protect against things she might inhale. Wrong mask, wrong congressperson, wrong hysteria.
Sheila.. if you are reading this: get a brain. At least BORROW one.
On the other hand, since the Three Stooges is not on TV much anymore, she is kinda comical. Larry, Moe and Curly all wrapped up in one package.
9/18/2007 9:23:46 AM
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hou_lemme wrote:
Sheila is a drama queen!
9/18/2007 9:17:10 AM
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DPBHOUSTON wrote:
Good ole Sheila, she will do anything to get on camera.
9/18/2007 9:13:13 AM
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John09 wrote:
CharlesLSJr wrote:
"So John09 and grthac, may I suggest that those "affected" take an antihistamine rather than going to the emergency room, grandstanding with masks, or requesting that the school be torn down?"
Absolutely. That's my suggestion as well. Not sure why your implication is that I support Jackson-Lee.
But schools should be cleaned up, it's not good to have dilapidated and moldy buildings in general. After all, when Walter Reed was mold-ridden I'm sure you were angered, right?
9/18/2007 9:05:59 AM
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CharlesLSJr wrote:
So John09 and grthac, may I suggest that those "affected" take an antihistamine rather than going to the emergency room, grandstanding with masks, or requesting that the school be torn down?
9/18/2007 8:57:30 AM
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grthac wrote:
John09: so right.
9/18/2007 8:52:52 AM
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slopchops1 wrote:
WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
Again the TREASONISTS are trying to wreck our country by passing THREE amnesty bills. Want to give the illegal immigrant children a free college education? Thats the DREAM act plus others. Go to NUMBERSUSA.COM and free fax your state Senators and tell them what rubbish this is.
This vote is taking place THIS WEEK!!
The DREAM Act (S. 774) is a nightmare. It is a massive amnesty that extends to the millions of illegal aliens who entered the United States before the age of 16. The illegal alien who applies for this amnesty is immediately rewarded with "conditional" lawful permanent resident (green card) status, which can be converted to a non-conditional green card in short order. The alien can then use his newly acquired status to seek green cards for the parents who brought him in illegally in the first place. In this way, it is also a backdoor amnesty for the millions of illegal aliens who brought their children with them to the United States.
9/18/2007 8:52:34 AM
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John09 wrote:
PoliticalBurnout: Mold hasn't been a problem for you. But that's the difference between what Plaintiff's lawyers claim (it affects everyone) and the truth (some people are unaffected).
All I'm saying is that between their "everybody panic (and sue)" stance and your "I eat mold for breakfast, lunch and dinner" stance, lies the truth. It affects some people, but not everyone.
Your allergies are from the Hill Country cedar, most likely. My girlfriend gets them from pine trees here in Houston. When she goes back home to Austin, she has no allergies at all. Allergies, like mold, affect some people differently or not at all.
Your trial group of one person isn't indicative of the science behind mold.
9/18/2007 8:44:23 AM
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electric wrote:
Everything is alright now with liberal Jackson Lee on the scene.
9/18/2007 8:37:16 AM
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tntisch wrote:
Earlie:
Being a licensed physician would do nothing other than allow him to look at symptoms and offer treatments.
Is (not ARE) the testing equipment up to date? whether it is 20 years old or 2 years old as long as it is calibrated prior to any sampling events and after any sampling events is the primary issue, and nobody who routinely takes air quailty samples knows this protocol on their equipment like the back of their hand and knows to do this for accuracy.
Taking a student to a physician is not going to accomplish anything to 'confirm allegations of mold' all it would do is confirm that today's students are even more lazy than they were 15 years ago and expect things to be handed to them.
So you let the parents et.al. sue. Let's say they win, next you are going to gripe and complain because HISD has to raise tax rates because in a district where funding is already cut short, you have just decided to dip into that funding even more, thus decreasing funds available to rectify anything that may or may not be wrong, as well as taking funding away from the students. Brilliant idea!!!! Let's ignore students educational needs even more so we can continue on as the most Litigious society in history.
The only people at this point being humiliated are the teachers who are being carted off in amublances, with a teachers Union who still has yet to come back with the correct number of teachers who have 'claimed to be sick'. Anybody can call an amublance for anything, and it doesn't necessarily have to be one from HFD or another Emergency Service District, I can call an independent EMS service right now to come pick me up becuase I have a high pulse and shortness of breath. Disregard the fact I have had way too much coffee this morning and have been running up and down the stairs at the office trying to get certain things taken care of.
All of those teachers were treated and released. That does not sound like anything deathly serious at all if they are not even staying for any sort of observations at all. Does it say there isn't a problem? No. What it says is that at this point if there is anything at all making them sick, other than their own pathetic minds, it is not an immiediate and dangerous issue.
Parents can't transfer their students either unless they fully move or put them in a private school, which I am guessing they don't have the financial ability to do otherwise their students would already most likely be in a private school, or they would live in a different area.
9/18/2007 8:37:11 AM
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PoliticalBurnout wrote:
Dear John09...regarding the mold problem....I lived in the Houston area for 40+ years close to Greens Bayou and even been flooded out a couple of times and took months and months to completely dry out. And, with all of that never had any respiratory problems "until" I moved away from Houston to the Austin Area and now I have allergies, stuffiness all the time. My experience with mold suggests that mold is not nearly as much a problem as traffic fumes, and emissions from refineries. I believe mold concerns is similar to Global Warming fears....it's all a part of nature, been around for eons, will continue to be around more eons, so stop being so concerned by it all.
9/18/2007 8:35:22 AM
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JSKY wrote:
"There's some areas that look suspicious, and a qualified professional, a mold expert, should look at them,"
Again?
9/18/2007 8:34:28 AM
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ge7sb wrote:
Thank God that Shelia could break free from the space shuttle, the search for Steve Fossett, OJ being arrested in Vegas, and the student tasered in Flordia to come here and bless us with her presence. You know she's not a "camera hog" and is only doing this for the safety of all. She should have worn her space suit from the NASA. She'll need it again when she repairs the heat sheild on the shuttle!!
9/18/2007 8:34:08 AM
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TrkRentalGal wrote:
just bc shes the most visable doesnt mean thats a good thing. THe majority think shes an absolute moron, publicity chaser, and definitely an oppurtunity seeker. I immediately tune her out and the issue once she jumps on the wagon...
9/18/2007 8:18:11 AM
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John09 wrote:
PoliticalBurnout: Mold as the cause of many diseases is a very rare thing. What it usually does is inflame existing problems, like allergies, colds, etc. And it can do it.
But yes, as presented by Plaintiff's attorneys and their junk science, mold as a cause of thinks lie liver failure, cancer, etc., is a bunch of bull.
9/18/2007 8:17:58 AM
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KlausVonStein wrote:
"At the beginning of the tour, Jackson Lee placed a hospital mask over her mouth and handed out masks to others."
This woman..Mrs Jackson is more of an actress than a politician. What a snow job!
This is a job for Quantum X
9/18/2007 8:16:42 AM
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9er wrote:
One must bear in mind that to date there has been more evidence supporting "teacher led" cheating on state exams at this campus than there has been supporting a mold problem.
9/18/2007 8:08:26 AM
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PoliticalBurnout wrote:
Mold problems is another one of those "urban legends"...lived in Houston for 40 plus years and it's impossible to not have mold in a hot,damp climates and have never in all that time known of anyone hurt by mold.
Sheila Jackson is known in my neighborhood as the "Mouth without attachments". Sorry Sheila Jackson fans,but I automatically switch off tv or radio when she appears...I would like for her to just "Shut Up!"
9/18/2007 8:05:33 AM
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houstontroy wrote:
Right ... ... Quanell X, the stage is waiting for you.
9/18/2007 8:00:13 AM
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John09 wrote:
"Say what you want about Sheila Jackson-Lee, but she's the most visible Representative in the city."
Sure. Now if only she would take up a cause besides trying to name more hurricanes after black people, we'd be in good shape.
Visibility isn't always good. Lee is as much a laughing stock single-issue racist as McKinney was from Atlanta. She doesn't represent Houston, she represents a very specific group of people who want entitlements. Something for nothing.
9/18/2007 7:57:13 AM
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pro_jock wrote:
Where was Quanell X and Sylvester Turner? They usually turn out for this type of hollow grandstanding as well.
9/18/2007 7:56:54 AM
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txstarrider wrote:
The day is SAVED!! Shelia Jackson Lee has flown in on her broom and right into the media spotlight that she loves to keep on her. This witch is never around when white folks need help. Wonder how long it will be before she plays her customary race card in this issue. A true Dem to the core she is. She and Quannel should consider forming a "power ticket" for the next election. Those so called "teachers" and other employees that are milking this thing for some money need to be immediately fired. Have to go now, I just threw up in the back of my throat thinking about all of it.
9/18/2007 7:49:48 AM
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WoolyBugger wrote:
Abe should put his money where his mouth is and relocate his office to Key for 1 week.
9/18/2007 7:49:00 AM
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Timechick wrote:
Sounds to me like a very likely case of a very serious disease called "Hysteria." It too can cause very physical symptoms like the ones described.
9/18/2007 7:43:41 AM
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CharlesLSJr wrote:
Oh for Heaven's sake! There's mold everywhere! It's especially concentrated outside. Oh no! Nobody go outside! Mold! Mold! My wife teaches at one of those "privileged" schools you reference, Earlie. On any given day you will find children and teachers with the sniffles or feeling sick in some way. The reason you don't hear incidents like this out of river oaks is because the people are too INTELLIGENT to say something like "The spots on the bulletin board are making me sick".
Also, I love how the Chron only reports that people went to the hospital feeling sick. They don't report that the doctor said GO BACK TO WORK THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU
9/18/2007 7:35:50 AM
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pshelton6 wrote:
Say what you want about Sheila Jackson-Lee, but she's the most visible Representative in the city. I never see my Rep on tv, and rarely the others representing the Houston area. Compared to the others, she earns her paycheck.
9/18/2007 7:33:14 AM
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Jackaloo wrote:
I think Sheila Jackson Lee should wear the mask all the time!
9/18/2007 7:16:53 AM
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muse7 wrote:
Sorry, folks, but I know from personal experience how sick certain molds can make you. I denied it all for months, until Stachybotris was found in my bathroom. Heck, the SMELL alone would knock you out, much less the rest. As for the already-done inspections, I'd say get another, by a company specializing in that problem. If the complainers prove to be hysterically dramatic, then fine. But if there IS legit cause for concern, the district will have done the right thing by being thorough and cleaning it up. It IS Hell to be poor!"
9/18/2007 6:52:43 AM
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my5cents wrote:
After about 30 minutes at Key, Jackson Lee said she wasn't feeling well. State Rep. Harold Dutton concurred after walking into a computer room. "I walked into this building, and my sinuses immediately did something," said Dutton..." They did something?
Is drama class a prerequisite for office? Seems like it.
Last night on the news they said that no children have been rushed to hospitals in ambulances? Hmmmmm
Maybe the ailment the teachers and janitors have is called lazyitus...
9/18/2007 6:44:21 AM
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Watch4me wrote:
So, now we know for sure that this pure politics!! Anytime Sheila shows up!! Funny how this concidentally times with the bond issue isn't it?
9/18/2007 6:40:27 AM
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dcsports wrote:
Way to scare the kids, folks. I'm really surprised the principal is wearing a mask, AND is still principal. Great passive-aggressive example to set.
And Lee doesn't do anything without trying to be dramatic. Inviting reporters along, then passing out masks, IS dramatic. Stating you aren't feeling well after 30 minutes (for something claimed to be related to length of exposure) Is dramatic.
9/18/2007 6:21:52 AM
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Earlie wrote:
Is Supt. Aveedra a licensed Physician?
Are the testing equipment up to date?
If it were in a River Oaks area it would be closed until officials check out the whole school.
Would Supt. Aveedra send his children to Key Middle School, probably not.
As Marvin Zindler would always say. " It is hell to be poor".
I would like to see all the Student's parents take them to the Doctor or Hospitals to confirm the allegations of the mold and then let the Parents, Teachers and all file a lawsuit against the Supt. and HISD for allowing students, teachers and other personnel to continually be exposed to this.
All need to considered about Supt. Aveedra and what has happened in the past as to whether his word is sufficient th the transporting of the staff and students to the hospital.
No one life is worth humilitation and all the students, teachers, janitors and all concerned should picket the school until something is done and also parents should transfer their child to other schools and when no one is there then Aupt. Aveedra can stay at the school instead of his office.
Than You JOSE CUERVO for your input.
9/18/2007 5:48:16 AM
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