School officials and union leader disagree on mold

By TOM KANE

HANKINS, NY — Sullivan-West superintendent Michael Johndrow says the mold in the Delaware Valley School isn’t dangerous to the health of the students and teachers.

Teachers’ union president Ken Crumley says it is dangerous.

The subject of mold came up at the school board meeting on January 23 at the Delaware Valley School building.

Johndrow admitted that there were a number of different kinds of mold in the building.

“We’ve been addressing this problem for a number of years,” Johndrow said.

Johndrow said that two BOCES health and safety coordinators have gone over the school in the last three years and have found no molds that presented serious health problems.

“I guess I have a different definition of ‘serious,’” Crumley said.

Crumley said a number of teachers, whose own children attend the school, have told him that their children were suffering from headaches, respiratory problems, and nausea. He said the union was conducting a survey of teachers to find out the degree and nature of sickness among students.

“Only one student has been reported absent because of a serious illness during the month of January,” Johndrow said. “The student has a history of asthma.”

BOCES Health and Safety Coordinator Catherine Vacca, who inspected the building, said that the district has been working to remove any mold that was discovered.

“My investigation was limited,” Vacca said. “I did not inspect the entire building but only those places that were mentioned by the Eastern New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center study that the teachers’ union provided. I did not conduct air tests.”

The union-sponsored study was conducted in 2001.

Vacca said she found no molds that could be considered dangerous. Most of the mold was the result of a leaky roof that had been inadequately repaired over the years.

“We’re going to put on a new roof as part of the renovations,” Johndrow said. “That will solve our mold problems.”

Last week, Test Well of Albany, a company that specializes in investigating molds, conducted a day-long test of the building.

“We expect their report Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week,” Johndrow said.

“I’m going to be very interested in seeing this report,” Crumley said.