Weakley Co. school to continue next week, this summer to end mold problem
The Weakley County Board of Education said that it has
already made corrections in areas inside Westview High School that have been
identified to have mold and that it will be taking further steps to remediate
the entire school next week and this summer, according to Amber Griffin, a
Memphis attorney.
Griffin, who represents plaintiffs who filed lawsuits
against the Board, said that the announcement was made by James Pannu, a
Nashville attorney who represents the Board, during a hearing on Monday.
"He said that they worked from 3 p.m. (Monday) to 6
a.m. (Tuesday) to immediately remove areas we identified," Griffin said.
Pannu could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Monday's hearing was concerning a temporary restraining
order and temporary injunction to prevent Westview High from being used as a
school until it is free from mold contamination.
The injunction was requested in a lawsuit, filed in
December, by Carol Hinman, the mother of Griffin and Dominique Pochop, who
attend Westview High School. Hinman's children have tested positive for mold
exposure and have been suffering many symptoms, according to the lawsuit.
The first lawsuit filed by Caleb Joost and his parents, Richard
and Julie, said school officials have neglected to handle a mold problem that
has persisted for years and has affected their son's health since November
2004.
The Joosts said their son began experiencing 26 symptoms
that he never had before - such as respiratory infections, sinus infections,
ear infections, skin infections and vomiting.
The Joosts were requesting in the lawsuit that a permanent
injunction be ordered against the school to discontinue classes at the location
until proof is provided that the building is free of toxic mold.
According to preliminary laboratory reports filed in
support of the injunction, some areas in Westview High tested positive for mold
a week ago. While some spots had very light growth of mold, others had very
heavy growth of mold.
Griffin said that Weakley County Circuit Court Judge
William B. Acree Jr. recommended that the Board have a full-blown inspection,
done by experts and professionals, conducted on Westview High from Feb. 14 to
Feb. 18.
"They are supposed to provide temporary remediation on
visible mold growth at that time," Griffin said.
The Board is also expected to conduct a full-blown
remediation of the school during the summer and a mechanical engineer will
search for the causes of the mold so they can be fixed.
Griffin and Pannu will draft the agreed order and present
it to Acree some time this week.
Griffin said that Hinman's children will not be going back
to the school, but the Board will provide an alternative way for them to get
their education, per the order.
"Carol is grateful that her children don't have to go
back to the school until it is free of mold," Griffin said. "Caleb
Joosts no longer goes to the school. The Joosts never wanted to file a lawsuit.
All they wanted was remediation."
Martin Middle School was also included in the preliminary
laboratory reports filed in support of the injunction.
Griffin said that while the Board has already contained the
boy's locker room and the boiler room, it will wait until a full, detailed
analysis is provided on Saturday before continuing remediation of the school.
Griffin said that a hearing on the school will be held on
Feb. 15.
An injunction hearing was held in January and was continued
to April 21. Griffin said that the date is still available in case things don't
go as planned.
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