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Breaking News Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007
Workers complain of mold at Oneco Elementary
http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/151878.html
By NICHOLAS AZZARA
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MANATEE --For the second time in a week, mold-related health concerns have been reported on Manatee County School District property.
Two Oneco Elementary staffers who work in a prekindergarten school building submitted health complaints in August, relating to respiratory problems. Children throughout the school attend class regularly in the Kinder-Dome, which is home to four pre-kindergarten classrooms, one science lab and a speech therapy room. It's not the first time mold has been detected at one of the oldest buildings on the campus.
Complaints have not been widespread, according to principal Marian Summers. The affected employees did not miss work and did not ask to be relocated.
"No one voiced a concern about moving to another area," Summers said. "If there was an issue of not being able to be in the area, I'd make the accommodations."
Four school district employees suffered minor respiratory symptoms and watery eyes, but missed no time from work in recent weeks because of the moldy walls inside the Superior Electronics building off U.S. 301, which the district purchased almost three months ago for $15.8 million. Between 30 and 40 people were working in the building, and four of them reportedly complained of minor irritations they experienced when crews began to replace pieces of wall.
"Oneco is coming of age. The Kinder-Dome area is old," said Forrest Branscomb, Manatee school district's risk manager. "We'll address this. These things take time to investigate."
The Oneco problem stems from an aging air conditioning system. Dehumidifiers have been placed in the building, as specialists continue to monitor air quality and moisture levels. Cabinets and desks have been disinfected.
"It's an older system that may be struggling to dehumidify properly," said Todd Henson, the district's director of maintenance. An engineering firm is expected to make recommendations on controlling humidity within the next two or three weeks.
In 2000, students and staff inside the Kinder-Dome complained of stinging eyes, nausea and other symptoms. The school system replaced the air-conditioning system, drywall, insulation, carpets and cabinets and seal-coated the exterior walls. Indoor air sampling for mold spores did not indicate a problem.
School district tests showed the mold at Oneco Elementary contained no poison or other problems for people, beyond the average allergy. |
