Mount Prospect School District 57 tackling additional mold problems

Mount Prospect Elementary School District 57 officials say mold has been discovered at Lincoln Middle School, in addition to a previously confirmed finding of mold at Westbrook School for Young Learners.

Jason Kaiz, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, told the school board Thursday that mold was found in pipes in the 300 wing of Lincoln.

Remediation and treatment with a protective material should be complete by Aug. 1, he added.

“Lincoln, we know is going to be demolished in a year, but that doesn’t change the fact that we want it to be as safe for our students and staff as possible,” Kaiz said.

Mold remediation and removal of all insulation at Westbrook is complete, he said. New insulation on the lower level is expected to be installed this week.

Checks at District 57’s other schools — Lions Park Elementary and Fairview Elementary — found no mold.

District officials have spoken with architects, engineers, a heating-and-cooling vendor and a construction company about avoiding a return of mold Westbrook. Talks have focused on dehumidifiers in the classroom, humidity sensors in the building, having the carpets cleaned and how often the chiller that puts cold water in the pipes should be running.

Nancy Brooks, a first-grade teacher at Westbrook who has been working in the lower level since 2013, said teachers have complained about the school’s environment.

“We’ve been brushed off, and now I’m hopeful that with board support, we will get remediation and answers that are much needed,” she said.

Fellow first-grade teacher Koula Frangiadakis said she and her colleagues would like to see testing of the ducts, vents, filters and other ventilation system components, as well as the carpets and rugs.

“Last year, I know I lifted up my carpet and saw the area rug where the kids sit and we found mold,” she said. “We also found mold inside the desks wherever there were rust spots.”

District 57 officials said specialists will be reporting back to the school board on Aug. 6.