DATE: Tuesday, June 10, 1997                TAG: 9706100234

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   85 lines

FIX ROOF AT HIGH SCHOOL, REPORT SAYS

A state health consultant's report makes no bones about how to clear the air at Manteo High School: Fix the roof.

The six-page document, released by the state Department of Environment Health and Natural Resources, followed a visit May 9 by consultant Ron Howell. His visit was the result of complaints about air quality by parents, teachers and students.

Surveys conducted by the high school's newspaper, Sound to Sea, late last year showed that some students and teachers believe they have suffered from upper respiratory problems as a result of poor air quality at the school. The primary causes of the difficulties, they say, were mold and mildew caused by leaks.

The report backed their contention.

``From a health effects perspective mold produces air contaminants that can cause symptoms among sensitized individuals such as . . . sneezing, eye irritation . . . asthma symptoms and difficulty breathing.''

The report said the humidity and temperature at the school, combined with the leaky roof, provide a recipe for massive mold growth.

``Based upon observations during this visit and temperature/humidity measurements collected, all the factors are there for mold to proliferate in these buildings.''

The report recommends five key remedies.

``The first step in addressing this issue should be stopping and repairing the water leaks in these buildings,'' the report said. ``It should be noted that according to literature on internal air quality problems, water intrusion into buildings is the biggest single cause of mold growth.''

Other recommendations:

Ceiling tiles that have evidence of water damage or stains should be replaced immediately. If tiles become wet, visible mold growth can occur within 24 to 48 hours. On the eve of Howell's visit to Manteo, teachers and students say they saw maintenance personnel painting over or removing mildew- and mold-stained tiles.

Carpet in buildings should be kept clean and dry. Affected areas should be completely dried within 24 to 48 hours. If certain areas are repeatedly soaked by incoming water, however, cleaning may not be enough. Those sections should be removed. The report also recommended thorough carpet cleaning two to three times a year.

A humidity and temperature monitoring program should be established for the building. Mold growth is caused not only by leaks, but also by high levels of humidity over an extended period.

A special emphasis on mold detection should be integrated into the school's routine inspections. Any mold discovered should be removed in accordance with state guidelines.

The report also called for new filter systems for the school's heating and air conditioning units, and said steps should be taken to get more outside air into the building.

``The recommendations seem reasonable to me,'' said the assistant superintendent of county schools, Ken Wells. ``Our next step is to meet and determine what kind of steps we can take to implement these recommendations. The biggest thing is the roof.''

The roof at Manteo High School has been a source of controversy for years. School officials acknowledged in December that the leaking roof in the 13-year-old building has been a problem ``since day one.''

``I think we've started to have some severe problems over the last six months,'' school Administrative Assistant Bud Hendrix said in a December interview. ``We've had small problems all over the building for years. But the school maintenance people are doing everything they can do, short of putting a new roof on the building.''

In 1995, the Board of Commissioners approved $250,000 for each of the next three years for systemwide roof repairs. Education officials said the lack of qualified bids for repair and replacement projects caused delays in the work.

However, a leaking roof has been cited as a concern in monthly maintenance reports done by the system, as well as state studies, as far back as 1991.

As for the heating and air conditioning system, Wells said, ``I think the man on the street knows we have a problem. You walk into the building, and there's always that musty smell.''

Under the systemwide program, repairs at Kitty Hawk Elementary School and Cape Hatteras School are either under way or completed. And work at Manteo Elementary School is to begin this summer. ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC

THE PROBLEM:

THE SOLUTION:

MEETING:

[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.] KEYWORDS: DARE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AIR QUALITY MOLD

ROOF

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