Mold
Found in Mt. Juliet School
December 12, 2002
For months parents have complained about the air
quality at Mt. Juliet Elementary
Now tests confirm their suspicions: the school has a major mold problem.
Behind the 60-year-old brick walls of Mt. Juliet Elementary is a world of
worries for parents.
What's in the building along with students and teachers is mold. and some
say it's making kids sick.
"Lots of sickness. We have a lot of sick children and I think it's a major
concern for parents. Doctors bills, children missing all the time, the
teachers have to work in it and deal with it", said Tonya Bowers, a Mt.
Juliet Elementary parent.
Parents demanded the school be tested for mold especially after several
children became sick.
"One of them was hospitalized for 4 days at UMC and the other 2 were so
allergic and so sick, that their doctors recommended they be removed from
the school", said Karen Tillman, another Mt. Juliet Elementary parent.
"My kid that's in the first grade, she's always sick, but the other one's
okay. But I don't know if it's from here or just the conditions", said
Mark LaGrone another Mt. Juliet Elementary parent.
The school system is trying to fix the problem.
Tests were run earlier this week confirming 3 of 12 areas tested needed to
be closed off until they're thoroughly cleaned: two classrooms and a
bathroom.
School officials vow the school is not a safety threat.
Mickey Hall, of Wilson County Schools said, "According to the testing
company, no. We have some issues on cleaning. We're currently evaluating
what our cleaning staff have done."
The school has added more cleaning crews, and workers are putting a fresh
coat of paint on the boiler room walls and pipes.
But some say it's not enough.
"From what I heard, I don't know if they can clean it good enough to solve
all the problems of the mold", said parent Joan Richmond.
Mold is just one reason why parents are upset here at MJE.
They're also concerned about that outdoor hallway that links two
buildings.
Students and teachers have to cross between the buildings all day long.
And then there's the future widening of Mt. Juliet Road in front of the
school. All reasons why parents and school officials are hoping these
blueprints for a new school get the go-ahead, and fast.
Another mold test will be conducted at the end of this month to see if the
cleaning worked.
The county is expected to vote in February on building a new elementary
school. |
