Two teachers left Key Middle School in ambulances this morning, reigniting the union's concerns that the northeast Houston campus is unsafe.

The two women were taken to the hospital after vomiting and experiencing watery eyes and difficulty breathing, said Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. Fallon suspects the cause is mold or some other air-quality problem.

Terry Abbott, spokesman for the Houston Independent School District, said the administration has not heard an official medical report about the teachers. He emphasized that a private inspection company found a week ago that Key Middle, located at 4000 Kelley, did not have unusual levels of mold and that city inspectors agreed with that assessment.

"We understand the building was hot this morning. That may have had something to do with those who felt badly today," Abbott said. "We have had nothing at all unusual among the children."

Fallon strongly criticized the district for not taking her concerns seriously.
"What I'm beginning to wonder is, is HISD going to wait until a kid or a teacher keels over and dies." she said. "I'm real sorry they can't find what's wrong with the building. That doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. But you don't expose teachers and staff to what is obviously a dangerous situation."

A male teacher from Key first went to a hospital on Aug. 28 after feeling sick, Fallon said. That weekend, the school district ordered janitors to clean the school, and seven ended up in the hospital.

Abbott said their illnesses were caused by fumes from bleach that was used in the cleaning.

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