DAUFUSKIE ISLAND -- The Beaufort County School District will spend more than $40,000 and pull children out of class for up to a week to fix a mold problem at Daufuskie Island Elementary School.
District officials say a leaky air conditioner and improper plumbing allowed moisture to collect behind the walls and under the floor in one of the school's two classrooms, causing high concentrations of mold to form.
This week, high mold concentrations also were found in a closet in the school's library building next door. Mold can cause health problems for those with allergies or respiratory issues.
A contractor specializing in mold cleanup will spend up to a week sanitizing the air conditioning units, floors, walls, desks, books and other classroom materials exposed to the contamination. Work could begin as soon as Tuesday, said Jennifer Staton, the district's risk manager.
The school's 18 students will be excused from classes during the cleanup and will make up missed days during a three-week intersesssion this month and in October. Daufuskie Elementary is on a year-round calendar. The district is working with parents, some of whom scheduled vacations over the three-week period, to determine the make-up dates.
After teachers discovered high concentrations of mold behind a bookshelf and in a closet in a classroom two weeks ago, the district ordered the classroom sealed off and children moved to the library.
Following a $10,000 project in which a contractor removed and cleaned the air conditioner and replaced damaged areas of the floors and walls, students were moved back into the main building.
But on Aug. 23, after the district announced it was still awaiting results of air-quality tests, concerned parents and the school's two teachers moved the children back into the library until they were sure the building was safe.
Some parents pulled their children out of school, and only one student and one teacher showed up for classes Aug. 24, said John C. Williams, a district spokesman.
After air-quality tests came back indicating most of the school was safe, children and teachers returned to the main building this week. The affected classroom remained sealed off, and classes were held in a resource room in the building's main corridor.
After they had moved back to the school from the library, inspectors found high concentrations of mold in a closet of the library. Students have been kept out of the library building until the contractor is able to replace portions of walls and flooring there.
"It's been sort of the perfect storm over there," Staton said. "The mold was concealed in a wall, and it could have been there for quite some time. It was just kind of a hidden problem."
The school's staff, she said, did the right thing by removing the children from the classroom and library and alerting the district to the problem.
Leave a Comment
Discuss
Tell a friend
Bury
Print Preview
District officials say a leaky air conditioner and improper plumbing allowed moisture to collect behind the walls and under the floor in one of the school's two classrooms, causing high concentrations of mold to form.
This week, high mold concentrations also were found in a closet in the school's library building next door. Mold can cause health problems for those with allergies or respiratory issues.
A contractor specializing in mold cleanup will spend up to a week sanitizing the air conditioning units, floors, walls, desks, books and other classroom materials exposed to the contamination. Work could begin as soon as Tuesday, said Jennifer Staton, the district's risk manager.
The school's 18 students will be excused from classes during the cleanup and will make up missed days during a three-week intersesssion this month and in October. Daufuskie Elementary is on a year-round calendar. The district is working with parents, some of whom scheduled vacations over the three-week period, to determine the make-up dates.
After teachers discovered high concentrations of mold behind a bookshelf and in a closet in a classroom two weeks ago, the district ordered the classroom sealed off and children moved to the library.
Following a $10,000 project in which a contractor removed and cleaned the air conditioner and replaced damaged areas of the floors and walls, students were moved back into the main building.
But on Aug. 23, after the district announced it was still awaiting results of air-quality tests, concerned parents and the school's two teachers moved the children back into the library until they were sure the building was safe.
Some parents pulled their children out of school, and only one student and one teacher showed up for classes Aug. 24, said John C. Williams, a district spokesman.
After air-quality tests came back indicating most of the school was safe, children and teachers returned to the main building this week. The affected classroom remained sealed off, and classes were held in a resource room in the building's main corridor.
After they had moved back to the school from the library, inspectors found high concentrations of mold in a closet of the library. Students have been kept out of the library building until the contractor is able to replace portions of walls and flooring there.
"It's been sort of the perfect storm over there," Staton said. "The mold was concealed in a wall, and it could have been there for quite some time. It was just kind of a hidden problem."
The school's staff, she said, did the right thing by removing the children from the classroom and library and alerting the district to the problem.
Leave a Comment
Discuss
Tell a friend
Bury
Print Preview
-
Mold Scams
Mold 101
Mold Myths
Mold News
Books & Publications
Mold Glossary
Mold in Schools
Mold & Health
Mold Testing
Mold Inspections
Mold Remediation
Mold Prevention
Mold Litigation
Mold Legislation
Mold & Construction
Mold Industry Standards
Product Reviews
Industry Associations
Blogs and Commentary
Mold Studies/Research
Mold Insurance
Mold In Food and Agriculture
INDOOR AIR as we now know is worse compared to outdoor air. Nature with...
INDOOR AIR is at its worst, everywhere. In today's life, more time is...
that was gross..can't imagine my home having troubles with those molds....
From what is shown in the video the rental clearly has water intrusion...
where the issue started?...
i totally agree...
From the Editor at Moldfacts:
While Decongreen, which is... From the Editor at Moldfacts:
While Decongreen, which is...
While Decongreen, which is... From the Editor at Moldfacts:
While Decongreen, which is...
Comments