Concerns returning about District 95 school
The environmental quality of May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich Unit District 95 is at issue again as parents have brought a renewed round of questions and concerns to district officials.
The number of inquiries about whether the school has mold or asbestos problems has been substantial enough that the district has scheduled a community forum on the subject on at 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the school at 100 Church St.
The forum, which will be held in May Whitney's gymnasium, will be a chance for community members to have their questions answered. District officials will be on hand as well as representatives from the independent agencies that have studied the building.
"We'll answer every question that's posed to us at the forum," Superintendent Mike Egan said. "Our goal is to be completely transparent in regards to the environmental conditions of that building."
The building, also known as the Annex, has housed May Whitney for the last two years. In 2007, the original May Whitney building flooded, revealing toxic mold and asbestos.
The Annex, formerly the site of Lake Zurich Middle School North, had been used for storage. The portion of the building that is the current location of May Whitney is 55 years old.
Parents raised concerns about the facility when the elementary school was moved there in 2007. Tests run at that time by the environmental firm ENVIRON International Corp. determined the building to be safe.
Egan said it is unclear why this has become a source of concern again recently, and said the district is confident in the safety of the building.
Carolyn Fitzgerald, member of a group called No Mold Left Behind, said having the forum is a good step, but the district could be doing more.
"As far as their speakers, it should include the Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Department of Public Health," Fitzgerald said. "They are the ones who are the experts on indoor air quality."
While Fitzgerald said the No Mold Left Behind group is not behind the fresh round of concerns directed at the administration, she said members plan to attend the forum.
"You just want to see that things are handled properly," Fitzgerald said.
Interested community members can send questions to Egan ahead of time at mike.egan@lz95.org or simply ask their questions at the forum.