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TX: North Forest ISD Elementary Closes Early Due to Mold
Tidwell Elementary School / NFISD FOX 26 News
"School was released early Wednesday at Tidwell Elementary when mold was found in the library." FOX 26 News
"...A teachers' union representative said, however, that she and many others at Tidwell have seen mold in classrooms and have felt ill since the school year began." Houston Chronicle
North Forest ISD Elementary Closes Early Due to Mold
Last Edited: Wednesday, 03 Oct 2007, 2:41 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 03 Oct 2007, 2:41 PM CDT
Tidwell Elementary School / NFISD FOX 26 News
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4534067&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
School was released early Wednesday at Tidwell Elementary when mold was found in the library.
No notes were sent home. But parents were called to come pick up their children at the school at 8000 Tidwell Road.
The school's official statement was that "students were released early due to facility problems."
The North Forest ISD has scheduled a school board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Central Administration Building at 6010 Little York. Future plans for the school and students will be discussed then.
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Houston & Texas News
Oct. 3, 2007, 7:04PM
'Facilities problems' halt classes at Tidwell
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5184580.html
By ERICKA MELLON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Parents of students at Tidwell Elementary School were called to pick up their children this morning after officials decided to dismiss classes because of "facilities problems."
The school's principal said in a letter that classes will not resume until Tuesday because of construction that is under way in the building.
A teachers' union representative said, however, that she and many others at Tidwell have seen mold in classrooms and have felt ill since the school year began.
The campus, at 8000 Tidwell in northeast Houston, is in the North Forest school district.
Although students came to class as usual today, parents received phone calls later in the morning, telling them to pick their children up.
Many parents who came to the campus expressed frustration and anger because they had to leave work and were not being given clear answers.
"I think it would be appropriate for them to tell the parents what they know so we could get our kids' health checked out," said Lakeithia Jenkins, who has three children attending Tidwell.
Jenkins said she had to leave her job working in a hotel kitchen to pick up her children. She said her children have been unusually lethargic lately.
A teacher's aide at the school, Linda Sweat, who is a representative of the American Federation of Teachers, said mold is visible in classrooms and about half of the school's staff has felt sick since the school year started.
Sweat said she has had headaches, red eyes, a sore throat and fatigue.
Nakisha Myles, spokeswoman for the North Forest district, denied that today's dismissal was because of mold.
"They're just releasing (students) due to facilities problems," she said, refusing to elaborate.
In a letter addressed "To Whom It May Concern," school principal Phyllis Williams wrote that, "due to construction in the building," school was being dismissed early today and classes will not be held Thursday through Monday.
The complaints of illness recounted by Sweat are similar to those reported by staff members at the Houston school district's Key Middle School, a few miles from Tidwell. After numerous complaints from teachers and other staff members, some of whom went to hospitals in ambulances, the Houston district temporarily closed Key for further tests.
The Key students are attending classes at nearby Fleming Middle School while inspectors, including some from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, analyze the findings of tests to determine whether the illnesses were caused by mold or some other problem.
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jmontgomery wrote:
another school with mold problems. why am i not surprised. it is called maintainence for a reason. why wasn't this problem taken care of during the summer when there are no students, teachers,and others in the building being in the way or putting their health in jeopardy?
10/3/2007 11:36:57 AM
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myblackz wrote:
Another sock in the eye for NFISD. 25 years since I've been there and they still haven't got their act together.
10/3/2007 11:38:57 AM
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VoiceInTheCrowd wrote:
And so it begins ...
10/3/2007 11:39:51 AM
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justmyopinion03 wrote:
"They're just releasing (students) due to facilities problems"...They had all summer to fix this crap.I'd be a pissed off parent especially finding out that my children were exposed to mold or what ever else there may be without my knowledge.
10/3/2007 11:42:30 AM
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ZeroTX wrote:
You realize this is North Forest ISD. They'll be taken over by the state by next year anyway, so these problems will become up to them to fix. It's a corrupt, poorly-managed district, full of thieves pocketing tax-payer money. The school board is corrupt and the children are suffering for it. The entire area breeds ignorance.
10/3/2007 11:42:41 AM
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CowGirlUpForIt wrote:
Makes you wonder, what administraters do all summer. Not to mention the "Big Bucks" they get pain. Well put VoiceInTheCroud..............
10/3/2007 11:53:23 AM
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Sparkle1960 wrote:
I have a feeling a lot of these older schools will have kids and faculty getting sick. A few years ago I visited my old Junior High School for some event. I haven't been to this school in over 20 years (since my junior high days). When I walked in the school I could smell the scent that was at the school when I was attending. I thought it was so weird. It brought back a lot of memories. Either they are not cleaning/disinfecting the schools the way they are supposed to or the schools are just too old.
10/3/2007 11:59:31 AM
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jp77 wrote:
Maintenance is NOT done in any School District anymore. The regular maint budget is for paint, plumbing problems and minor carpentry. Almost everything else must be accomplished from Bond Money. This is NOT news.
>>All summer to fix this crap.....>> uh maybe 4 weeks and what good does having the time if your budget is already blown?
>>What Administrators do.....>> What does Admin have to do with Maint anywhere? Maint is ALWAYS deferred, because it can be. The problem is when stuff just wears out.
10/3/2007 12:07:32 PM
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Magrathea wrote:
I applaud the staff for making the decision to close the school -before- the union got involved and paraded teachers out in amblulances! I'm sure there was much less disruption in closing the schools suddenly in the middle of the morning than in having helicopters watching your school for ambulances.
10/3/2007 12:34:22 PM
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MissNee wrote:
"A teachers' union representative said, however, that she and many others at Tidwell have seen mold in classrooms and have felt ill since the school year began."
oh good grief -- here we go again.
10/3/2007 1:02:21 PM
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katiemac wrote:
"Maintenance is NOT done in any School District anymore." Not much teaching happening in these school districts either, jp77. The Keys incident all over again. Teachers faking illness to get out of work. Unions and liberal Congresswoman grandstanding for personal gain. All that is lacking are the personal injury lawyers, and they are no doubt on the way.
10/3/2007 1:03:53 PM
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fifthgenhous wrote:
Why don't we just build a huge fire & invite them to party for days on end instead of having to go to school.....I never liked the way schools smelled either but i managed to muck through.
10/3/2007 1:07:48 PM
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Fatcat wrote:
Yeah, this is all too familiar. I know, I do facilities management work for a living and many in the upper administration see money spent on maintaining facilities as second to other costs and pet projects. When I worked at one TX state organization the administrators bonus was tied to keeping costs down, so he always cut facilities. Mold can be bad, and you need professionals to remove it, you can’t just send the custodians out with some bleach in spray bottles. If its in the walls or the HVAC system it’s a major job to remove. I believe what we are seeing in the school districts is the fruition of the old saying "Pay me now or pay me (more$$$) later". Their Facilities administrator should have a program in place to periodically check all the schools for indoor air quality.
10/3/2007 1:17:15 PM
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electric wrote:
Oh, just close all the schools, and sue everyone.
10/3/2007 1:38:53 PM
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dcsports wrote:
Why didn't the union pick up on this one????
And if there was 'visible mold', why wouldn't the teachers have said something before now? At least at Key, they didn't have visible mold. Visible mold / mildew is easy to fix.
10/3/2007 1:47:36 PM
twoside wrote:
"A teachers' union representative said, however, that she and many others at Tidwell have seen mold in classrooms and have felt ill since the school year began."
I'm sorry but if Ms.Williams felt the kids was in any dangers she would have close the school at the first notice.
10/3/2007 2:05:27 PM
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Delo wrote:
I think the district should just be honest about the situation. At Tidwell ES, class begins at 8:00 a.m. A media van was already sitting in front of the school. Administrators were waving at parent when dropping off their children to attend school; which was unusual. 8:20 a.m. Channel 2 was on their way to the school. By 9:15 the school was placing calls asking parents to come pick-up their children. The reason, it was an early dismissal day. Once you arrived to pick-up your child and informed the teacher of no prior notification, you were told of construction taking place. The district is missing out on student funding for the children at Tidwell ES for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday for construction work that could have been done during the summer or on a weekend. Something is not right. How can you trust your child with them five days a week expecting them to be responsible when they are not being honest with the public. If there is a mold problem be honest about it. Inform the public what the district is doing to correct the problem and handle it. Either way you will have individuals who have became ill, individuals whom will pretend to be ill and individuals whom will not. But in the long run you know you did the right thing for the children and workers at that particular school. That's all I want is an opportunity to make sure that my child healthwise is alright. But again, that's what's wrong with NFISD administrators and board. They continue to make bad decisions.
10/3/2007 2:17:01 PM
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TaoJones wrote:
Where is all this mold coming from? I started school in an old church without AC and we never had these problems.
10/3/2007 2:20:18 PM
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ZeroTX wrote:
"Where is all this mold coming from? I started school in an old church without AC and we never had these problems."
People's minds, primarily. Every place in the gulf coast region has mold and mildew. Furthermore, what most people here are calling "mold" is really mildew. It's handled with some simple bleach... a.k.a. the stuff you spray Tilex on in the shower.
That being said, the way they turn the a/c systems down to save tax dollars actually does create more condensation, etc. But, if they cranked the a/c to keep it nice and dry inside, that would cost more money. A catch-22. Also remember, these are primarily "water-cooler" type of a/c systems, which are less expensive to operate, but not as good at making nice, dry, cool air like we have say in a home a/c system.
10/3/2007 2:30:48 PM
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billo9272 wrote:
It comes from a lack of maintaining an AC system. In some cases the parts are no longer available, the chill or hot water pipes are rusted out, the insulation has gone bad, and that's before the air even makes it to the individual classroom air conditioner. When it gets to the individual unit...if it even makes it that far then you have to contend with filters being dirty, return air vents being dirty, supplied air vents being dirty, overflowing drain pans, and the list goes on and on. The important thing to remember is that you must correct all of the problems in order for the system to work efficiently. HISD has around 300 facilities. Can you imagine how much it takes to maintain this many units. More than the 805 million bond.
10/3/2007 2:40:44 PM
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TradeLidgeAlready wrote:
School mold = this year's shark attacks
10/3/2007 2:40:58 PM
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TradeLidgeAlready wrote:
Plenty of teachers aren't in unions, but isn't it odd that so many of the 'victims' are union members and union reps?
Just a hypothetical, I'm sure, but what if a teacher or three decides that they don't like their old building and are jealous of other schools or districts. Get sick, call in the media, and have a much better chance of getting whatever they are seeking. Or perhaps you're an administrator whose budget can't afford a new building? Conspire with the union, create a sickness hysteria, and then use the media and camera-hog Congresswomen in gas masks to pressure gov't to provide emergency funds that you otherwise would have no chance at. Ya know, because anyone who dares question motives and seek actual facts will be quickly castigated as wanting to poison children, because "We can't take any chances with our precious children." Politically it is brilliant. Now that it worked at Keyes, why not elsewhere?
Crisis politics is usually quite effective.
So excuse my cynicism, but I bet we'll see many more "Mold in school!" crisis pop up in the next few months. Nevermind that generation after generation went to school in far worse and moldy conditions and had no problems, the soccer moms always lap up hysteria. "Can't take chances" means "We are going to make others whip out their checkbook."
10/3/2007 2:52:08 PM
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K2 wrote:
TaoJones wrote:
Where is all this mold coming from? I started school in an old church without AC and we never had these problems.
10/3/2007 2:20:18 PM
True, but the old buildings were built to breathe. The newer buildings are sealed to reduce loss of cool air or heat. Then, they leave the A/C off all summer and mold is the natural result.
10/3/2007 3:06:49 PM
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madwoman wrote:
sounds like a district ploy to get the public awareness up to get the bond approved in the election.
10/3/2007 4:38:18 PM
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msimpxon wrote:
"Investigations revealed that the source of the mold in all these schools was actually the brains of the teachers and the teachers union leaders, and it got out through the holes in their heads."
While it is important to have clean and healthy facilities for our students, the biggest thing that is holding back our education system is the teachers, the teachers unions, and the giant bureaucracies that run the school districts. Way too many overpaid administrators, way too many unqualified teachers who have no motivation to improve - the union shoots down any attempt to pay based on performance. Why work harder when you know it won't result in more pay?
10/3/2007 4:45:14 PM
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tbashin1 wrote:
If there is no moisture then mold can't live. Fix the leaks and HVAC and the mold stays away.
10/3/2007 4:46:58 PM
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woodbuffalo9 wrote:
The tribes are restless again. Maybe negros don't like school.
10/3/2007 6:03:14 PM
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woodbuffalo9 wrote:
Get Sheila Jackass Lee in there with a full moon suit this time. She is a role model, milking the gov't teat for all they can get but don't deserve.
10/3/2007 6:04:42 PM
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FANSVOICE wrote:
Another ploy to con people into passing a not needed bond increase!!!!!! If all the money from the lottery and offshore oil revenue were sent to the schools like it is supposed to, then there would not be these problems!!!!!!
10/3/2007 6:18:22 PM
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Mountaineer1 wrote:
Property taxes will just keep going up to feed this hungry machine.
10/3/2007 7:18:56 PM
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Hadenough wrote:
This just goes to show you that school districts do not put money where they should, first on children and then on facilities and maintainence. This will continue to be an ongoing problem until priorities are corrected. And, another district spokesperson with an all to familiar denial of the truth.
10/3/2007 7:53:29 PM
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Hadenough wrote:
dcsports, Key MS did have visible mold.
10/3/2007 8:03:47 PM
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NoMoreSchoolMold wrote:
I invite concerned staff, parents, and community members to visit The Center for School Mold Help website at www.schoolmoldhelp.org, where you will find free resources and comprehensive information to help you with your local school mold problems.
Learning more about mold, solutions and options for teachers and parents can assist local groups who are working on these problems or monitoring what the school district is doing about them.
The community is correct to take this situation very seriously. As a person disabled by mold, I can tell you that mold in a building can steal your health and with it, your future.
Much of this information is found on the www.schoolmoldhelp.org site - I hope it is of help.
10/3/2007 9:13:01 PM
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For all stories on this topic, see below:
North Forest forced to shut Tidwell http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5186737.html
Houston Chronicle, United States - 19 hours ago
By ERICKA MELLON In a move that surprised parents, North Forest school officials on Wednesday removed students from Tidwell Elementary to clean moldy areas ...
Questions Remain After Schools Merged http://www.click2houston.com/news/14272962/detail.html
Click 2 Houston.com, TX - 1 hour ago
By Kym Alvarado-Booth HOUSTON -- Another suspected mold finding forced a school to shut down and merge with another campus. This time, it happened in the ...
Tidwell Elementary to hold parent meeting tonight http://www.khou.com/news/local/education/stories/khou071004_ac_tidwellfolo.139eec14b.html
KHOU (subscription), TX - 7 hours ago
AP Classes were canceled Wednesday, and the students will be moved to a nearby elementary school. That decision came after the North Forest School District ...
Tidwell, Hilliard Elementary Schools To Merge http://www.click2houston.com/news/14266817/detail.html
Click 2 Houston.com, TX - 12 hours ago
HOUSTON -- An air quality report from a northeast Houston elementary school prompted the North Forest Independent School District to close the school for ...
Building problem means short day at Tidwell Elementary
KHOU (subscription), TX - 22 hours ago
By Juanita Jimenez and Leigh Frillici / 11 News Concerns reportedly over mold at a northeast Houston school prompted parents to take their children out. ...
'Facilities problems' halt classes at Tidwell
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5184580.html
Houston Chronicle, United States - 8 hours ago
Parents of students at Tidwell Elementary School were called to pick up their children this morning after officials decided to dismiss classes because of ...
Elementary school cancels classes for construction with no warning
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5689178
abc13.com, TX - 1 hour ago
By Deborah Wrigley (10/3/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - Parents were forced to pick up their children from school at Tidwell Elementary when classes were canceled ...
North Forest ISD Elementary Closes Early Due to Mold
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4534067&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
MyFox Houston, TX - 5 hours ago
School was released early Wednesday at Tidwell Elementary when mold was found in the library. No notes were sent home. But parents were called to come pick ...
Parents pull children out of Tidwell Elementary School
http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/100307kvuetidwellmiddleschoolwalkout-cb.1351edbe1.html
KVUE (subscription), TX - 5 hours ago
By Juanita Jimenez / KHOU-TV Concerns reportedly over mold at a northeast Houston school have prompted parents to take their children out. ...
Elementary School Dismissed Because Of 'Facility Problems'
http://www.click2houston.com/education/14261143/detail.html
Click 2 Houston.com, TX - 7 hours ago
Students at a northeast Houston middle school went home early Wednesday because the North Forest Independent School District suddenly canceled their classes ...
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