Mold, water damage discovered at school
By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer
Updated 12:55 PM Thursday, July 16, 2009
Construction workers have
discovered mold and water damage in the walls of D. Russel Lee.
In the process of remodeling
the facility, Butler Tech officials said they learned the original 1975
building’s shell walls had water damage where rainwater had been leaking
into the facility. The moisture damage and some mold growth concealed in
the cavities of several areas in the structure weren’t discovered until
the walls were recently opened, officials said.
“We’re examining the extent
of the moisture damage,” District Spokesman Bill Solazzo said. “Certainly
it’s adding work to the project, which obviously takes time. There’s no
question there will be an additional cost to it.”
How much time or cost has yet
to be determined, he said. Also, while the district’s goal is to open the
facility by the start of the school year, it will be working on a
contingency plan for alternate locations if necessary. If it opens, he
said it will be clean and ready for students. Communication with the
staff, students, and associate school districts of Butler Tech has already
begun and will continue throughout this construction project, he said.
Butler Tech officials said
they have sealed off all affected areas and relocated personnel to the
Education Resource Center next door where they still can be reached at
their regular phone numbers. Isolating the ventilation system has made it
safe to hold adult education classes in newer sections of the building
where no moisture damage exists, they said.
“There have never been any
health complaints associated with it,” Solazzo said. “We just want to be
proactive.”
The damage cleanup involves
removing exterior brick and cleaning from the outside inward. Workers will
reinstall the brick in a manner to prevent future moisture intrusion.
Solazzo said it appears the damage was caused by flashing on the roof.
“Certainly you don’t expect
moisture damage, but its not unusual with a building of that age and with
as many additions as we’ve had,” he said.
The district is working with
an environmental consulting firm to perform air quality testing throughout
the building. It also has contacted the Butler County Health Department to
advise them on any potential health and safety issues as it resolves the
problem
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