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This document is also available as a PDF. Toxic mould isn't playing havoc with all schools Toxic mould isn't playing havoc with all schools
By Josh Brown
Some boards in GTA desperate for space with loss of portables STAFF REPORTER Mouldy portables at schools across the Greater Toronto Area mean many
students will go back to class in gymnasiums, libraries and on auditorium
stages. But not all school boards are scrambling to find space for their pupils,
with the first day of school less than two weeks away. While boards like Halton and Peel have spent the summer inspecting,
demolishing and repairing hundreds of portables, Toronto's two boards
found only 11 of their combined 889 portables needed extensive repairs. It hasn't been a problem,'' said Jeff Sprang of the Toronto District
School Board. We don't have the numbers that Peel and Halton have.'
' A fluctuating school population'' means not all portables get used. Schools in York Region are also on track to accommodate all their
students. Mould has been detected in several portables, but all have
either been fixed or will be looked at before school starts Sept.
8. Officials at the Durham District School Board said any mould problems
in their 538 portables have been fixed. With 45 more portables ordered,
finding room for students hasn't been a big problem. Walter Yewchyn of the Durham Catholic District School Board wishes
he could say the same. Its schools are creating classrooms on auditorium
stages and in libraries. The only things we aren't using right now
are hallways and washrooms.'' No area has been hit worse by the mould - called stachybotrys atra
- than Halton and Peel regions. There will certainly be some situations this fall where there will
not be enough space at some schools,'' said Brian Woodland of the
Peel District School Board. Of the board's 782 portables, 214 were found to contain mould. Forty
have been demolished and 37 repaired with the rest scheduled for repair
or demolition. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is fighting a similar
battle. It found mould in 126 of its 734 portables this year. It cost
the board $1.5 million to rebuild them, but it's still short of space. The Halton District School Board isn't doing much better. Some students
are being bused to classrooms across town. Others will learn in places
like gymnasiums. Prolonged exposure to the mould has been linked to migraines, nosebleeds,
lung problems, diarrhea, shortness of breath, coughs, muscle pain,
fever, rashes and sore eyes. 1 of 2 7/25/99 3:33 PM Printable Document-Electric Library Personal Edition http://business.elibrary.com/s/elbe/getd...docid=1723449@library_k&dtype=0~0&dinst= Copyright (c) 1998 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved. Josh Brown, Toxic mould isn't playing havoc with all schools. , The Toronto Star, 08-28-1998. Copyright © 1998 Infonautics Corporation. All rights reserved. - Terms and Conditions 2 of 2 7/25/99 3:33 PM |
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