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Print This StoryMold Closes DeForest School
'It's Ridiculous, It's A Bunch Of Hype'
POSTED: 8:14 a.m. CST March 22, 2002
UPDATED: 10:07 p.m. CST March 22, 2002
DEFOREST, Wis. -- Classes were canceled Friday for 340 students at Yahara Elementary School in DeForest while officials investigate possible mold found in the air circulation system.
Students had been scheduled to start their spring break this week.
Parents learned Thursday night that Yahara Elementary School will close, probably for the rest of the school year.
Kids and teachers will be relocated to three other schools because officials fear there's mold in the school's ductwork, News 3 reported.
DeForest area school officials have been battling small cases of mold at Yahara Elementary School for 10 years.
"Anytime you're talking about the safety of the children and our staff, we want to make sure we've done everything we can do to protect them," Jon Bales, DeForest superintendent said.
The school district has been conducting air quality tests at the school since January, News 3 reported. This week it stumbled upon another problem.
"They discovered what they thought could be a growth in there," Bales said. "We don't know if it's mold, but whenever you're dealing with the air filtering systems, it seemed like the safest and most precautious approach was to just close the building."
Right now, it doesn't look like kids will be returning to the school until next fall.
"If we can isolate problems, then we're going to want to remediate those completely and we want the time to be able to do that," Bales said.
Tonight parents learned about the problem for the first time Thursday night, and it stirred up mixed reactions, News 3 reported.
"I think it's ridiculous, I do, I think it's a bunch of hype because of the Chavez thing," parent Lisa Netzel said.
Some parents said it's better safe than sorry.
"It's better than waiting for the final results come and then saying, 'Oh, it was bad, and we should have closed the school,'" parent Tammy Lubick said.
School officials said they'll be working closely with parents to try and make the relocation of nearly 350 students as painless as possible.
WISC and Channel3000.com will have more information as it becomes available.
Parents learned Thursday night that Yahara Elementary School will close, probably for the rest of the school year.
Kids and teachers will be relocated to three other schools because officials fear there's mold in the school's ductwork, News 3 reported.
DeForest area school officials have been battling small cases of mold at Yahara Elementary School for 10 years.
"Anytime you're talking about the safety of the children and our staff, we want to make sure we've done everything we can do to protect them," Jon Bales, DeForest superintendent said.
The school district has been conducting air quality tests at the school since January, News 3 reported. This week it stumbled upon another problem.
"They discovered what they thought could be a growth in there," Bales said. "We don't know if it's mold, but whenever you're dealing with the air filtering systems, it seemed like the safest and most precautious approach was to just close the building."
Right now, it doesn't look like kids will be returning to the school until next fall.
"If we can isolate problems, then we're going to want to remediate those completely and we want the time to be able to do that," Bales said.
Tonight parents learned about the problem for the first time Thursday night, and it stirred up mixed reactions, News 3 reported.
"I think it's ridiculous, I do, I think it's a bunch of hype because of the Chavez thing," parent Lisa Netzel said.
Some parents said it's better safe than sorry.
"It's better than waiting for the final results come and then saying, 'Oh, it was bad, and we should have closed the school,'" parent Tammy Lubick said.
School officials said they'll be working closely with parents to try and make the relocation of nearly 350 students as painless as possible.
WISC and Channel3000.com will have more information as it becomes available.
Previous Stories:
- March 21, 2002: Report Blames Construction Process For Mold
- February 19, 2002: Mold Investigation: Is Your Home Built Properly?
- February 14, 2002: Does Your Insurance Cover Mold?
- February 11, 2002: Moldy School Will Stay Closed This Year
- February 7, 2002: Chavez Elementary Teacher Filing Lawsuit
- January 29, 2002: Teachers, Parents At Boiling Point Over Chavez
- December 12, 2001: Chavez Elementary Tests Positive For Mold Again
- December 6, 2001: Three Mold Types Found At Chavez Elementary School
- November 30, 2001: Chavez Parents Say They Feel Shut Out
- November 29, 2001: Moldy Madison School Will Remain Closed Thursday
- November 28, 2001: DeForest Schools Reveal Mold Problem
- November 27, 2001: Parents Want Answers About Mold At Chavez
Copyright 2002 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
