SYLVANIA, Ohio — Parents of Whiteford Elementary School students received an update on the condition of the building, which was found to have had mold in several rooms earlier this month.
While the word "mold" never appeared in Friday's update, the letter from the district noted that the school received "an initial verbal report that indicated that two rooms needed attention" after a summer rainfall caused a flood at the school this summer. Certified Environmental Services tested the air and took samples throughout the school after the flooding.
Those tests revealed that one second grade classroom was “loaded” with Cladosporium mold spores, receiving a maximum 4 on a 0-4 physical tape test scale. Exposure to Cladosporium is not known to cause disease, but long-term exposure can result in allergies and asthma symptoms.
A first grade classroom tested seven times over the maximum limit recommended for the stachybotrys mold air test, according to the analysis. Stachybotrys can also cause respiratory issues if exposed over a long period of time.
Friday's report from the school district said the condition of those rooms was addressed immediately, as were other areas throughout the building. The district said it replaced carpets, ceiling tiles, and property that had visible damage. In addition, all classrooms were equipped with dehumidifiers with pumps draining directly into the sink, the district said.
"We received the comprehensive test results from the testing this week. That test was conducted on August 14th. The Lucas County Health Department has inspected the building and has confirmed that the findings in the report support the building is safe," the letter read. "In addition, the department concurs the cleaning and maintenance efforts are appropriate."
Some parents are still skeptical.
"I was really angry because I really feel like this is not just an issue from the summer where they were putting the roof on, there had to be mold in those classrooms with water coming in for years," Tammy McInerney, the parent of a student who switched from Whiteford to homeschooling after last school year said. "Last year in particular she had a cough in December that went away for a little bit and then came back in February and lasted through May."
Another parent who did not want to go on camera because she still has a child at the school says her child has a severe mold allergy and she's extremely upset parents weren't notified that mold had been found in the school.
She says she's now checking with the daughter's allergist to see if it's safe for her to continue going to Whiteford.
She has doubts and wants to know what was done step-by-step to make sure the mold was properly remediated.
As a precaution, the district said an outside company will do additional cleaning this weekend, followed up by additional testing.
"We will continue to monitor the building and take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff," the district said.