Delaware Valley building has mold problem

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON, NY — After recently touring the new renovations of the Delaware Valley School, several Sullivan West Board of Education members detected a moldy smell in some of the other classrooms.

“There was a distinct smell of mold in four classrooms on the second floor,” said board member Carol Nearing.

Other board members on the tour concurred.

“What’s the reason for this?” asked board member Bill Erdman.

“For years, there has been a leaking roof problem at the school and patchwork jobs that were done were ineffective,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Johndrow.

Air quality tests concur that mold exists, he said.

“We are addressing cleaning out the mold,” Johndrow said. “This week a roofing contractor was looking at it. It’s worse in some places than in others,” he said.

The mold does not present a serious threat to students’ health in the short run, but something must be done in the long run, he said.

The roof has to be completely torn out and a new roof erected, he said. Planned renovations would take care of it.

Because of heavy snow, workers have not had access to the roof, nor has its been in a dry condition to work on it.

“There must be environmental companies who specialize in this kind of thing who could solve this,” said board member Arthur Norden.

“We’ll see into this tomorrow,” said Turner Company representative Scott Bridie.

In another issue at the board’s January 9 meeting, Johndrow said all the construction companies were working with the New York State Environmental Department of Conservation to correct the erosion problem at the high school construction site and were making some headway.

“Why didn’t they [Leeward] mulch earlier?” board member Bill Erdman said. “Why didn’t Turner make them do it? When the spring thaw comes, the problem has to be solved.”