DOVER — Construction workers who have been cleaning and renovating the outside of Woodman Park School in preparation for its expansion project stirred up some moldy compost, sending a strange odor into the building that made some teachers and parents sick last week.

The incident occurred on April 19 after workers attempted to clean out light wells in the basement, which are similar to skylights on ground level and allow light to flow into the lower floor. Debris consisting of leaves, dust, dirt and anything else that had collected at the base wells over time got into the air as workers cleaned and caused what school officials called a moldy odor.

"These light wells were cleaned out this morning and the compost material was shoveled out," wrote Woodman Park Principal Patrick Boodey in a letter to parents. "The compost did have an odor and the air vents at the bottom of these light wells were also dirty. The odor did enter our bottom floor causing some adults to feel ill," the letter read.

School officials took steps to address the problem, including sending some people home and relocating children on the bottom floor to areas where there was better ventilation. The light wells and the air vents were also cleaned with an anti-mold solution and the area was ventilated using fans to circulate the air.

However, two teachers still went home sick; one of whom stayed out the following day, according to Superintendent John O'Connor.

"Our facilities department, the construction crew and (Woodman Park School) staff will keep on top of the situation and remain vigilant when it comes to student issues," wrote Principal Patrick Boodey.

O'Connor said the school will also undergo air quality testing next week.

"We believe those tests will come back negative," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said the district did not believe precautions such as air quality testing were necessary at this stage of the work.

He stressed the district will be following all state and federal guidelines when asbestos abatement is completed during the renovation project.

"We're doing our very best to ensure a safe and condusive school environment," O'Connor said.

The district is working to complete a $12.1 million renovation and expansion plan for the 50-year-old building. The project will add classrooms to the school for preschool and kindergarten, adding nine new classrooms after programs and classes are realigned, bringing the total number of classrooms up to 17.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070428/FOSTERS01/104280240

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