Belgrade Intermediate evacuates kids on mold precautions

By ERIN NICHOLES, Chronicle Staff Writer

Two groups of fifth-graders returned to their classrooms at Belgrade Intermediate School Thursday, having been evacuated after a wet carpet caused a mold problem.

The classroom has been professionally cleaned and tested, and is now safe for students, Robin Billau, a certified industrial hygienist hired by the Belgrade School District, said Thursday.

"This is a maintenance issue, it's not an immediate health issue," Billau said Thursday.

Last week, the students were moved to temporary classrooms after a teacher had what appeared to be an allergic reaction to mold, Principal Jan Riebhoff said.

"The teacher came a couple of days before school to work in her room and her eyes were itching and watering and were swelling," Riebhoff said.

School officials called a remediation company after realizing that the recently cleaned carpet was still wet, a window had moisture condensation and the air smelled musky, Superintendent Herb Benz said.

"We believe that there was an improper procedure used in terms of shampooing carpeting," Benz said. "It wasn't vacuumed properly and the water was just left in the room."

A variety of mold spores are constantly present in the air, but they thrive and multiply on surfaces that are wet for longer than 48 hours, Billau said.

High concentrations of certain types of molds can cause allergic reactions, while others pose more serious health risks, she said.

Billau tested the air in the classroom and the room next door after the cleaning.

"I found was that there was still a large quantity of mold spores floating around in the air, unfortunately in both rooms," Billau said. "All that told me is that we really need to go back and clean the rooms more thoroughly."

The second room had not been adequately dusted, and the mold may have passed between the rooms through the ventilation system, she said.

Both rooms were sealed off and thoroughly cleaned.

Billau retested the air a second time and it came up clean, and students returned to their rooms Thursday, Riebhoff said.

Billau said she does not believe any other parts of the building have high levels of mold spores.

"Molds grow on organic material, and whenever there's enough moisture present it's going to support the growth of mold," she said. "There didn't appear to be a problem that indicated there was moisture (elsewhere)."

However, Billau did find that the school's air vents are dirty.

"I am recommending the ventilation system be cleaned," she said.

Riebhoff said the school is considering participating the Air Quality Tools for Schools Program, through the Environmental Protection Agency. The program helps schools develop systematic approaches to building maintenance to prevent health problems.

While there is no cause for alarm, Billau encourages parents to keep an eye on kids' health.

"If anyone has any concerns about the health of their children, they need to see a physician," she said.

Erin Nicholes is at enicholes@dailychronicle.com

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