Residents Voice Concerns Over Mold Problems at McGee Middle School

[Tamara R Pearlman]

Residents Voice Concerns Over Mold Problems at McGee Middle School
newbritainherald.com
by SCOTT WHIPPLE – Staff writer

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 10:24 PM EST | BERLIN — Residents had an
opportunity Tuesday evening to ask questions about the project to
resolve the poor indoor air quality at the McGee Middle School.

Art Simonian, director of public works, opened the informational
meeting with an account of the air-quality problem, the timeline and
plans to address it. He cited the ventilation problems, outside air
not getting into classrooms and ventilating units causing moisture
problems.

Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. residents will have an opportunity to discuss
costs and solutions at Town Hall.

Though various remedies have been tried, the problem it seems was
worse than reported. Simonian insisted it wasn’t just mold, but
permanent moisture causing headaches and rashes in students and staff.
He assured the 40 or so people in attendance that the new HVAC units
will be energy efficient and serious moisture problems resulting from
poor drainage around the building will be resolved.

However, site work, courtyard improvements, tile replacement and
sealing could cost the town close to $7 million. The town will borrow
the money for improvements in phases.

Seventeen residents voiced concerns Tuesday night, mostly about mold
problems. Marcie Wanuk said her son, a sixth-grader, came home from
school with headaches. Other parents said their children became dizzy
in school, groggy and that the classrooms at McGee made them sick.

Though Simonian insisted the mold levels were not dangerous, Mayor
Adam Salina and others at the meeting expressed shock and surprise
that the last test for mold was in 2002.

Simonian said although there are no contaminants, negative air
pressure in the building compounds the moisture problem. Ventilators
were found to be the most problematic units in the school. The ability
of these ventilators to control indoor air quality was “questionable.”

Though potential project costs are formidable, both Simonian and
Salina insisted that in the long run the most cost-effective solution
is a four-pipe system that allows classroom temperatures to be
individually controlled. Simonian is optimistic that costs can be
controlled through the expected low bids and energy-efficient rebates
from utilities.

Renovations are expected to start this summer. However, they could be
delayed if the public opts for a scaled-back project and the issue is
forced to a referendum.

Salina said this approach would require starting the process all over
again and the result would be more costly for the town.

http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2010/01/12/news/doc4b4d3cc8be247988620156.txt