by Davin White
6/11/09
Kanawha County school officials still have work to do at two schools where mold showed up in the past year.
School officials expect a price quote soon to determine the cost to replace air-conditioning ductwork at Lakewood Elementary, county maintenance director Terry Hollandsworth said Thursday.
The old ductwork in the school’s lower-level wing, which was taken out in April, contained cladosporium (or common tree mold). The tree mold can cause allergy-like symptoms such as stuffiness, itchy eyes and congestion.
Hollandsworth said a section of windows also needs to be removed at Lakewood.
He said a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit has been installed and is operational on Andrew Jackson Middle School’s roof, where parents complained in September 2008 that mold and dusty, dirty conditions made students sick.
In at least two cases this year and last, students and a former Andrew Jackson teacher sued the school system.
Chuck Wilson, the lead school architect and facilities planner for Kanawha County Schools, has said more rooftop units might need to be installed in the next 10 years.
Katy's Exposure 