Mold found at preschool Early Childhood Learning Center safe, superintendent says Wednesday, September 27, 2006 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Abnormal levels of mold have prompted school officials to seal off three rooms in a district preschool and kindergarten facility that opened nine months ago. The presence of black mold has not disrupted learning for the Early Childhood Learning Center's 450 students and a contractor expects the problem to be resolved this weekend. School Principal Judy Leh said school nurses have not reported an increase in visits from students as a result. "Nothing seems to be jsumping out at them," Leh said. Building staff noticed mold growing on some surfaces in late summer. The district called in a consultant to check out the Center Street building and the consultant identified a number of possible origins to the black mold. The district mailed a letter informing parents of the situation late Tuesday afternoon. The letter to parents is coming out now because of the time it took to get test results on the mold, Superintendent Gordon Pethick said. Pethick said the district has been proactive on the problem. "That's not an unsafe school," Pethick said. He said one teacher reported not feeling well Tuesday and had a rash. "Last we heard everything was fine," Pethick said. Pethick said there were some issues with mold on some throw rugs in August. Maintenance crews tried to clean the rugs then discarded them before school started. A common problem Eric Schenkel, director of Valley Allergy and Asthma Treatment Center in Easton, said molds are common and found everywhere. Schenkel said a person's reaction to a mold depends on the amount, the type and whether it releases a volatile organic chemical. Those chemicals can cause headaches and other respiratory problems. Schenkel said an allergic person's proximity to the mold can be a factor. "If you're smelling a musty smell you can have an asthma attack within a few minutes," Schenkel said. Schenkel said a closed ventilation system can contribute to the problem. He cautioned people against panicking since mold is a common problem. Cleanup is under way School Construction Corporation spokesman Dave Crutcher said his organization is taking care of the problem and the cleanup of the three rooms should be finished by the weekend. The district hired building pathologist Michael McGuinness to diagnose the problem. McGuinness said some species of "black mold" is present as well as penicillium, or "bread mold." McGuinness briefed the school board Monday night and said two possible causes were leaks in the new building's roof and condensation caused by air conditioners running on humid days. Crutcher said mold was found on drywall and the source was traced to leaky pumps. McGuinness said building staff reported seeing "sweating walls" and a thin film of moisture on floors during humid days. Pethick said six or seven more rooms may be tested. McGuinness said cleanup crews will use soap, water and "elbow grease" to remove the mold. "The surface levels are very good, that's because the custodial staff is cleaning very well," McGuinness said. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.