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http://www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden/ci_7297664?nclick_check=1
Moon to spend
$82,000 on mold problem
By: Adam Fabian, Times Staff
10/26/2007
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MOON TWP. - The Moon Area School Board will spend nearly $82,000 for repairs to the high school's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system to help relieve any mold problems in the school.
But the repairs are not permanent, as the engineering firm renovating the high school said there is no way to save the system when work on the school begins.
The board voted to accept a proposal from Tower Construction Services Inc. of Kennedy Township to develop bid specifications for the repairs, which are expected to cost about $75,000. The board is paying Tower Construction up to $6,800 to assist in the bidding process.
At a board meeting Thursday, resident John Broderick complained about the expense, saying if plans to build a new high school had gone through, the cost of the repairs would have been avoided.
Some board members, while conceding the patch-up is necessary, questioned the decision to pay for the fix through a bond fund that has been taken out for the construction of a new middle school and renovations to the high school.
School director Peggy Bell said by using money from the fund, the board is leaving less money for the two major construction projects.
But Al Bennett, Moon Area business manager, said it makes better financial sense for the district to use the bond fund instead of its interest-bearing accounts.
To ease board concerns, Bennett said he will keep track of projects that are funded through the bond so capital funds can be applied to the bond later if necessary.
School director Barbara Nolfi said the HVAC system has been in poor shape for years because of poor maintenance.
Bennett said the district had tried to keep using the system without making any repairs since 1998 because of plans to build a new high school, but the maintenance can no longer wait.
"We believe this is the lowest cost, the best bang for our buck," he said.
A restroom and part of a stairway were closed in the high school in August after mold was discovered by a custodian. The district had the area cleaned and the leak that led to the mold repaired before the area was reopened.
Superintendent Donna Milanovich told the board Thursday that an independent study confirmed the findings of the Allegheny County Health Department that the mold in the school was not toxic.
She also said that while there is mold in the school, it is at levels lower than what is found outside at this time of year. Milanovich said the district is monitoring and cleaning any mold.
"We feel the situation is under control at this time," she said.
Adam Fabian can be reached online at
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©Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2007
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