THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
School officials on Wednesday began what is likely to be a long struggle to appease parents, students and teachers at Salem High School who are angry about poor ventilation in the building.
In a meeting of about 40 people at the school, officials reiterated the steps they are taking to reduce and eventually fix the air-quality problems that have surfaced since the school opened five years ago.
The building has been plagued with heavy infestations of mold and mildew because of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that doesn't suck enough moisture from the air. Many students and staff members have complained of physical ailments, including aggravated allergies.
Salem is one of eight city schools experiencing air-quality problems.
``One of the things that we need to do is keep the lines of communication open,'' said John S. Kalocay, the school system's chief operations officer in charge of the department that is handling the air-quality issue.
``Everyone cares, and we don't need any misinformation circulating, because I think that does more harm than good,'' said Salem High Principal Ramona Stenzhorn.
Stenzhorn and Kalocay handed out copies of a three-page memo detailing all the steps that have been taken. They include:
Buying dehumidifiers to place throughout the affected schools. The devices should be in the classrooms of all teachers who have requested them before the winter holidays, Kalocay said.
Assigning two custodians to monitor air quality, operate the dehumidifiers, replace air filters frequently and keep an eye on mold growth.
Setting up four portable classrooms, to be delivered to Salem High in December, for use by students and teachers who complain of being sick from the building's air.
Allowing students to transfer to another school if they believe their health is harmed by the air at Salem High.
Stenzhorn said the memo would be distributed to students today and mailed to all parents next week.
Kalocay said he would meet monthly with people concerned about air quality to discuss what steps are being taken.
``The bottom line is, we want everybody to be on the same team,'' he said.
Meanwhile, officials are working on permanent solutions.
Kalocay; Paul Garrison, the school system's director of environmental services; a consultant from Virginia Tech; and two area engineering firms are designing new systems to fix air-quality problems at Glenwood and Birdneck elementaries.
Design work on Salem High and Salem Middle will begin after plans are completed for the first two.
The other four city schools with air-quality problems - Ocean Lakes, Red Mill, Strawbridge and Rosemont elementaries - will get attention after that on a staggered schedule.
But students, parents and teachers said they would remain frustrated until officials provide a solid timeline for fixing the problems and more specifics on health risks. Kalocay and Garrison have said that the school buildings have been tested and deemed safe. Kalocay said he plans to meet with city health officials soon.
``To have someone sitting there, telling us there's only a small minority of people affected by this, that's just not true,'' said Sharon Stellmach, an English teacher at Salem.
``The parents are getting organized and the students are getting organized, and I think they're going to realize that we're not sitting down for this anymore,''said Debora Heilman, Salem's PTSA president. ``It's gone on long enough.''
Kimberly Dennis, 17, a senior, said after the meeting she still felt ``really frustrated, because nothing is being done. It's the same thing since day one, talking and holding meetings and saying they're going to fix it.'' by CNB