Clearing the Air at King’s Highway School

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Tear Down Specialists!

News, Education

Thursday, August 02, 2007

By James Lomuscio

Vowing that every child who sets foot in the King’s Highway Elementary School opening day “will enter a safe and healthy environment,” Gavin Anderson tonight kicked off the first official meeting of a new committee formed to tackle concerns about toxic mold and unhealthy air in the building.
Gavin Anderson (l) chair of the special committee investigating air quality issues at King’s Highway, addresses today’s meeting as Ed Hyudic (r), head of the teachers’ union and committee member, listens. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The meeting, held in Room 309 at Town Hall, drew about 50 including committee members and concerned parents.

“The school is set to open on Aug. 27, and the implication of those three weeks is that we have to work efficiently, quickly and we have to communicate,” said Anderson, chairman of the Special King’s Highway Elementary School (KHS) Maintenance Review Committee.

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff appointed the committee Monday in response to concerns from more than 100 parents to the school’s administration. Parents have cited child illnesses from allergies to asthma triggered by what they said was the school’s poor air quality.

“The whole objective is to be as open as we can be to instill a sense of confidence and to make sure the school’s environment is safe for our students,” said Joseloff, ex-officio committee member.

The committee includes Selectman Shelly Kassen, representatives from the Maintenance Committee, the Westport School District, the Westport Weston Health District, the town’s Building and Public Works Departments, Kings Highway parents, the teachers’ union, and consultant Gil Cormier of New Britain-based Occupational Risk Control Services, Inc.

Noting that a mold-contaminated portable classroom is scheduled for demolition next week, Cormier stressed the need for containing spores so they do not seep into the building.

“We have to make sure when we demolish the modular that the mold doesn’t go into the building,” he said, noting that an abatement company has been hired to seal the portable’s components as they are dismantled.

Regarding mold in the main building, Cormier added, “I won’t necessarily know for sure until I’ve taken some samples.”

“I do suspect some ceiling tiles in certain locations, especially close to the entrance and exits of the building,” he added. “There is nothing drastic that I have seen to date. We have a lot of contributing factors – air conditioning units, unit ventilators, heater vents, carpeting, There are a lot of things that can be fixed. “

Mark Burns, an environmental attorney and a parent of two children at King’s Highway, insisted the committee keep a record of everything discovered during the assessment and the portable’s demolition. There were questions, for example, as to the whereabouts of a window unit air-conditioner that had been removed.

“I’m asking that this committee take on, as one of accountability, preserving the record of what’s there so that we know what’s there,” he said. “It’s critical.”

Anderson agreed, saying, “If we don’t do this right, we will have to answer questions.”

Assistant Superintendent Nancy Harris, a member of the committee, later said the air-conditioner had been removed on her orders following a recommendation by Cormier. But she said he had not asked to take any samples from the unit.

She said she would find out where the air-conditioner had been taken.

Scott and Anna Howard, parents of a third grader, expressed anger that Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon had already sent KHS parents a letter calling it a “healthy school” while the assessment was still in progress.

Scott Howard was noticeably agitated when Cormier informed the group that mold in the portable had traveled within the walls from the floor to the ceiling.

“How long has this been going on?” he asked. “We had a year to fix this thing, and now you’re trying to do it in three weeks. It sounds like a big cover up is going on.”

Anna Howard was upset that the meeting did not have a bigger turnout considering the seriousness of the problem.

“Shame on the people who are not here,” she said. “Because it’s not your child, you don’t show up? Shame on you. And why is Elliott (Landon) not here? Right now I don’t know where I’m sending my kid back to school.”

Several Board of Education members attended the meeting, including Mary Parmelee, the chair. Joseloff said he had extended an invitation to the board to be represented on the committee.

The committee will divide into subgroups, Anderson said, to discuss technical matters, health issues, parental concerns, and financial matters, and schedule meetings next week.

According to Joseloff, the committee will report to his office, Landon and the school board as to what immediate action is needed to make sure the building is safe for opening day.

News, Education

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Clearing the Air at King’s Highway School

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