Union says DV building
is unsafe

HANKINS, NY — District teachers say they already knew the Delaware Valley building had serious mold problems and that they passed the word on to the Sullivan West Board of Education before their recent tour of the building.

In a statement from the union local, the Western Sullivan United Teachers and School related personnel (SRP) say they had the building inspected by the Eastern New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center and provided a report to the district. The union, they say, is still waiting to hear what action the district will take to end the health threat to students and staff.

Local president Kenneth Crumley said that the district made some efforts to correct the problem in house over the past two years, but “at no time has the threat to the occupants health and well being been diminished. The mold in classrooms and other parts of the building constitutes a serious threat to the health and well-being of the building occupants. It needs to be assessed immediately by trained professionals that can identify the extent of the damage and provide an inclusive remediation plan.”

Crumley went on to say that DV staffs have experienced health symptoms related to exposure to microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOC’s), which are produced by molds. These compounds often produce the strong unpleasant odor associated with mold and have brought health problems including headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue and nausea.

The statement goes on to call on the board of education to make remedy for “this intolerable situation” their highest priority.