Mold Found and Identified in Elementary No. 2

COURT HOUSE – Black stains that seemed to be seeping through the colorfully painted ceilings in Middle Township Elementary No. 2 weren’t old mold that had been cleaned and killed.
According to an air quality control company hired by the district to test for the presence of mold, not only was active mold found in the building, the type noted commonly causes asthma and hay fever.
The Herald has obtained a copy of the April 6 report from ALS Environmental that shows active mold growth in several classrooms in the building that houses students in 3rd through 5th grades.
On inspection of the school’s exterior March 25, ALS found, “clogged rain gutters, blocked or disconnected downspouts, and bird nests in holes of exterior walls. Water stains on exterior wall surfaces near gutters indicate water overspill.”
The report notes a general inspection of the building’s interior showed “In most areas or rooms where dropped ceiling exist, the tiles were bowed with a few isolated areas of water stains. Metal return and supply vents and desk and chair legs are rusty in some areas. These are all indications of elevated moisture conditions.”
Inspectors also found supply and return vents in the building to be dusty and dirty along with dust being visible on high horizontal surfaces including heating and air conditioning ducts, fire suppression pipes, lighting fixtures and structural components of the ceiling.
Four classrooms were found to have visible active mold growing. According to the report, Classroom C12, the most affected classroom, was found to have visible fungus growing as well as stains on the ceiling components. Supply vents were found to be dirty.
Visible mold growth was found on the HVAC ducts in Room E-8, along with a dirty supply vent. Room D-13 also had visible mold growth and stains on its HVAC ducts, fire suppression pipes and roof decking.
Room B-12 showed visible fungal growth and stains on HVAC ducts and roof deck. Peeling paint and efflorescence was found on an exterior wall.
In Classroom C-12, “Cladosporium levels inside the classroom were higher than outdoors. The indoor sample results from this survey suggests that indoor sources of fungal growth and proliferation are present. This is supported by visual observations of water damage, staining, discoloration and fungal growth.”
Parents have been reporting their children being sick with asthma-like conditions including coughing and wheezing as well as upper respiratory illnesses which they feel is caused by exposure to mold in the school.
“If you did a random poll of parents,” one parent told the Herald in a March, 2012 interview, “at least 50 to 75 percent of them would tell you their children are on neubulizers and never had to use them before them came to school.”
According to the ALS Environmental report, “Cladosporium is widely distributed in air and rotten organic material. It is often found indoors. This fungus is often encountered in dirty refrigerators, especially where condensation is collected. It can easily be seen on moist window frames covering the whole painted area with a velvety olive-green layer. The ability to sporulate heavily…makes this fungus the most important fungal airway allergen…it commonly causes asthma and hay fever in the Western hemisphere.”
Additional information provided to the district by ALS in the report stated human health concerns relating to mold can be broken down into three types – allergy, toxin and infection. The report states, “Allergy is the most common effect and can range from hay fever and asthma all the way to very particular reactions and diseases in certain organs or tissue. Hay fever like symptoms are probably the most common health effect attributed to mold in indoor environments.” Listed as one of the top three indoor allergens is Cladosporium.
In late March, when contacted about the mold problem in Elementary No. 2, School Superintendent Michael Kopakowski told this paper, “We don’t think it’s mold. But just in case it is, we’re going to call the company in and if it turns out to be, we’ll address it.”
After suspected stains were found and tested positive for mold, a team of remediators was called in during Spring break to clean Elementary No. 2.
In an April 5 interview with this newspaper, Kopakowski stated cleanup of No. 2 would focus on HVAC ductwork, the roof deck and other structural ceiling components.
As part of the cleanup, workers will clean vents, but not the actual ductwork. “That’s just not recommended at this time,” said Kopakowski.
While the report calls for professional inspection and cleaning of all HVAC systems as needed, it also calls for regular cleaning of supply and return vents. “Do not permit dirt, microbial growth, etc. to accumulate in or on the HVAC systems.”
ALS also states, “Fungal contamination in the indoor environment is always the result of some source of uncontrolled water infiltration. All sources of water infiltration must be identified and repaired of fungal contamination could continue to occur.”
During its April 19 meeting the board passed resolutions transferring $72,144 from its maintenance reserve account to pay ALS $3,344 in pre-testing fees, $63,800 for remediation services and an amount not to exceed $5,000 for post-testing.
During the Thur., April 19 school board meeting, Dennis Roberts, board vice president and chairman of the district’s Facilities and Grounds Committee announced all post-remediation testing performed in Elementary No. 2 showed “everything is clean.” A written report, however, from the company hired to conduct post-remediation testing was not available.
Factoring in pre- and post-testing and remediation in Elementary No. 2 as well as pre- and post-testing and remediation performed at Elementary No. 1 this past winter, the district has spent approximately $194,000 from its maintenance reserve account to test and remediate both schools.