To satisfy a Lakeland citizen concerned about unanswered questions in a 2014 mold abatement project, the school board invested $750 for the good of its students to get a new evaluation. The verdict from EnvironClean of Memphis: An all-clear from their experts.
School superintendent Ted Horrell provided the report to the board and members of the media at the Aug. 10 school board meeting. (See two links at the bottom of this article to read the report.)
An internal air quality inspection on July 30 focused on two rooms that previously had mold in 2014 (rooms 308 and 310), as well as the two rooms with the most recent ceiling leaks (309 and 406). The agency examined the facility and also did an outdoor air test for comparison purposes.
The indoor air quality samples were conducted with the building’s HVAC units running and circulating air, per indutry protocol.
Moisture levels were under normal ranges, and relative humidity was within normal ranges. There were no toxic molds present.
Horrell noted that the system would have passed the inspection if it had as many as 1,000 mold spores per cubic meter, but the school’s air came in even better, around one-tenth of that. The highest count found in the school was around 120 per cubic meter.
Horrell said earlier statements that the school has a mold problem were, in his opinion, untrue, inflammatory and unfair to the school system.
“There is no mold problem at Lakeland Elementary,” Horrell said.
The school system will continue to monitor the air quality as a routine matter of responsible facility management.
Horrell said at the Monday night meeting that Lakeland resident Lou Melton is the only person — including teachers, administrators, board members, parents and students — to date who has asked questions about the previous mold report.
Melton thanked the superintendent and board for investing in a new mold inspection.
On Tuesday, after reading the report in depth, she said she was happy with the results of the air quality tests, but she still said that not all areas of the school were inspected. She also remains dissatisfied with the district’s postponement of installing a new roof at the school until next summer.
Click below to read the new report (two parts):
Part 1 – IAQ/Mold Report
Part 2 – Spore Analysis
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
