Central Greene Elementary reacts to mold
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Central Elementary (WCES) has been in session since Aug. 23. However, just a week or so before classes began, mold was discovered in several rooms primarily on the ground-floor, basement level.
Melissa Brant, president of the Central Greene Education Association, asked District Superintendent Dr. Helen McCracken about the situation during the school board’s meeting on Aug. 21.
McCracken admitted, prior to the students’ first day, that a restoration company was called in to clean and a microbiologist was called in to test the air.
“Between the input of these professionals, who were asked first and foremost about the safety of the children, school ensued as we were advised it was safe,” McCracken said on Tuesday.
The uncertainty of what was occurring at the school created a high level of anxiety for Daphne Eddy of Mount Morris, who has a daughter attending third grade.
“We (parents) knew nothing about this until it was addressed at the school board meeting and information was later posted on Facebook,” Eddy said.
Eddy said she learned mold was found on the floor and in the ceiling of the third grade classroom of teacher Brenda Woods and on the bottom of Jason Falvo’s music sound system.
“I also was told there were five other rooms randomly tested,” Eddy said.
McCracken responded, “Regardless of what has been happening in other districts, the mold at the Waynesburg Central Elementary School has been an issue here since the inception of the building. I speak from personal experience as our daughter began kindergarten in that school the first year it opened.”
Moreover, McCracken said, this can be verified by residents in the area. The specific geographic location where the school now sits was damp and moist, but the building was built there nonetheless.
Contributing to and perhaps exacerbating this existing condition has been the extreme humidity and heat this summer.
“It has evidently caused a heightened mold awareness and presence,” McCracken said. “However, it was not the first time for WCES.”
She said the current board is taking action to address this long standing issue and, to her understanding, is the first school board here to do so, at least on this level.
What is being done to remediate the problem involves HEPA filtration vacuuming as a way to address the building, which is mostly carpeted. The steam extraction method of rug shampooing is the necessary means to address carpet cleaning and dehumidifiers have been placed in all the bottom floor classrooms with more to be placed o the mid-floor.
The HVAC controls have also been adjusted appropriately, McCracken said.
The board wishes to address the drainage outside of the building, so that will be evaluated. Carpet removal is a consideration and the board has requested that one of the unused rooms have the carpet removed.
As part of that process, the board requests, the glue be ground away from the cement floor, the floor be sealed and the room be cleaned with cleaner specific to mold elimination.
This room will then again be tested to ascertain if the carpet removal will have a measured impact on the damp situation.
“Teachers have been asked to refrain from allowing children to sit on the carpeting and are coming up with creative and appropriate seating choices,” McCracken said.
Eddy said she spoke directly to McCracken and was told if a child suffered from asthma he or she should not sit directly on the floor, but in chairs.
Brant, meanwhile, said the teachers’ union will be requesting copies of the reports from the restoration company and the microbiologist.
“Again, although this is newsworthy in other districts as it is a first for them, it is not a first for us,” McCracken said. “We are taking measures regarding the situation and are grateful for the cooperation of our school community and the direction of our board of school directors as we continue to address this decades old nuisance.”