Tangipahoa Parish School leaders address mold and mildew concerns before the start of class

GUILTY IN THIS CASE. NEW AT SIX, WE ARE TRACKING MOLD CONCERNS AT A TANGIPAHOA PARISH WITH SCHOOLS HAVING TO MAKE LAST MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING READY TO HEAD BACK TO CLASS TOMORROW. YEAH, TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, FOR YOU, NEARLY TEN CAMPUSES TESTED POSITIVE FOR MOLD AND MILDEW THIS SUMMER, AND FOUR OF THEM ARE STILL UNDERGOING CLEANING AND REMEDIATION AS WE SPEAK. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT IS PROMPTING A LOT OF CONCERN AMONG PARENTS. WDSU NORTHSHORE REPORTER SHAWANDA JONES TELLS US ABOUT THE LAST MINUTE SCRAMBLE TO GET THE SCHOOL READY. TANGIBLE HOPE PARISH SCHOOLS ARE IN CRISIS MODE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT’S BECAUSE MILDEW IS IMPACTING ITS CAMPUSES JUST HOURS BEFORE SCHOOL IS SET TO BEGIN. FRUSTRATED PARENTS AT HAMMOND EASTSIDE LOWER JUST LEARNED THAT THEIR KIDS WILL BE EATING OUTSIDE DURING LUNCH AT SCHOOL SINCE THEIR CAFETERIA IS UNDERGOING EMERGENCY MOLD REMEDIATION. SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW. WE HAVE HAD NO COMMUNICATION AND NO INFORMATION AS TO, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THIS SITUATION GOING TO BE HANDLED? TRENT ANTHONY, WHO SERVES ON THE TANGIPAHOA SCHOOL BOARD, IS ALSO QUESTIONING WHY THE ADMINISTRATION HASN’T BEEN MORE TRANSPARENT. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DID SEND AN EMAIL OUT THIS MORNING. I DON’T KNOW WHEN THE MOLD WAS WAS RECOGNIZED AS BEING PRESENT OR MILDEW, BUT I CAN’T ANSWER TO THAT. IN A LETTER, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS IT’S MAKING TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE KIDS AT EASTSIDE WITH AN AIR CONDITIONED TENT SET UP THAT CAN HOLD 400 PEOPLE AT A TIME. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN AIR CONDITIONED TENT FOR THOSE PREPARING THE MEALS. YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU’RE EATING A HOT MEAL IN 105 DEGREE WEATHER? YOU’RE GOING TO GET SICK. SO NOW WE’RE GOING TO HAVE KIDS GO HOME SICK, CAN’T GET THEIR EDUCATION. HOWEVER MANY WORRY. WHAT ELSE IS LURKING BENEATH THE SURFACE. WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE AIR CONDITION WAS ON AND OFF ALL SUMMER. UM, SO IF. THAT’S THE CASE, WHAT’S IN THE AIR? SYSTEMS? WHAT’S IN THE DUCTS? ANTHONY SAYS THE CAUSE OF ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE JUST BEEN A SIMPLE MISTAKE. WE THINK, FOR FOR PURPOSES OF COST SAVING, THAT SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO TURN THE UNITS OFF OR TURN THEM WAY DOWN. HAMMOND EASTSIDE IS NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL AFFECTED. ROUGHLY TEN OTHER SCHOOLS FROM PONCHATOULA TO HAMMOND TO LORANGER, HAVE ALL REPORTED MOLD OR MILDEW, AND THAT WILL NOT BE CLEANED IN TIME BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW. REPORTIN

After reports of mold surfaced at Hammond Eastside Lower, Tangipahoa Parish School leaders are making adjustments before the start of the school year.It's one of several campus dealing with similar issues. Students at Hammond Eastside will be eating in air-conditioned tents outside the school campus, until the issue discovered inside the cafeteria can be resolved. In a letter sent out to parents, teachers and staff, the school system revealed that several campuses have been battling increased humidity which can produce mold or mildew. At Hammond Eastside, testing showed the presence of mold spores in the cafeteria. School Board President, Brett Duncan, says the cafeteria will be fully gutted. Crew will replace the air ducts and ceiling tiles while doing a full remediation. In the meantime, a large portable searing area has been set up with air-conditioning and flooring. This area can accommodate up to 400 students and staff in one sitting.Employees have been provided with a temporary air-conditioned kitchen to prepare meals.At Hammond Eastside, drop-off and pickup locations will be the same, but students will now be redirected into the temporary cafeteria until further notice. Duncan said other schools, even those that didn't report problems will be tested as a precaution. The district is bringing in an outside company to help. In a document provided to WDSU, a list of schools needed mold remediation over the summer. At Ponchatoula High, the 300 Wing reported mold on June 27, with work completed on Aug. 2.Ponchatoula Jr. High reported mold on July 3, with work finished on Aug. 2.Loranger High School reported mold on July 30, with work set to be complete today. At Lucille Nesom 6-Plex, mold was reported on July 24, with work set to be complete on Aug. 13.Mold was confirmed at the Hammond High School Pro-Start kitchen; however, the mold was determined to be cleaned in house. Mold was also reported in the Independence Leadership rooms 403, 404, and 406, the Martha Vinyard North Building in Ponchatoula and Independence High room 403, with no completion date set yet. There are also concern for some classrooms at Amite High School. Those rooms will be sealed off until the concerns are addressed. Superintendent Mellisa Stilley told WDSU that the district is taking steps to remedy the problem and will be updating us throughout the day on the progress. In a statement, the district said, "We understand the concerns that come with reports of mold, and we want to reassure you that we are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our school community. Students and employees will not be allowed in that building until it is safe for them to return to using the cafeteria."WDSU has reached out to Superintendent Mellisa Stilley for clarification on the mold ahead of the schools returning for classes; however, she has not been able to accommodate our request.

HAMMOND, La. —

After reports of mold surfaced at Hammond Eastside Lower, Tangipahoa Parish School leaders are making adjustments before the start of the school year.

It's one of several campus dealing with similar issues.

Students at Hammond Eastside will be eating in air-conditioned tents outside the school campus, until the issue discovered inside the cafeteria can be resolved.

In a letter sent out to parents, teachers and staff, the school system revealed that several campuses have been battling increased humidity which can produce mold or mildew.

At Hammond Eastside, testing showed the presence of mold spores in the cafeteria.

School Board President, Brett Duncan, says the cafeteria will be fully gutted. Crew will replace the air ducts and ceiling tiles while doing a full remediation.

In the meantime, a large portable searing area has been set up with air-conditioning and flooring. This area can accommodate up to 400 students and staff in one sitting.

Employees have been provided with a temporary air-conditioned kitchen to prepare meals.

At Hammond Eastside, drop-off and pickup locations will be the same, but students will now be redirected into the temporary cafeteria until further notice.

Duncan said other schools, even those that didn't report problems will be tested as a precaution.

The district is bringing in an outside company to help.

In a document provided to WDSU, a list of schools needed mold remediation over the summer.

At Ponchatoula High, the 300 Wing reported mold on June 27, with work completed on Aug. 2.

Ponchatoula Jr. High reported mold on July 3, with work finished on Aug. 2.

Loranger High School reported mold on July 30, with work set to be complete today.

At Lucille Nesom 6-Plex, mold was reported on July 24, with work set to be complete on Aug. 13.

Mold was confirmed at the Hammond High School Pro-Start kitchen; however, the mold was determined to be cleaned in house.

Mold was also reported in the Independence Leadership rooms 403, 404, and 406, the Martha Vinyard North Building in Ponchatoula and Independence High room 403, with no completion date set yet.

There are also concern for some classrooms at Amite High School. Those rooms will be sealed off until the concerns are addressed.

Superintendent Mellisa Stilley told WDSU that the district is taking steps to remedy the problem and will be updating us throughout the day on the progress.

In a statement, the district said, "We understand the concerns that come with reports of mold, and we want to reassure you that we are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our school community. Students and employees will not be allowed in that building until it is safe for them to return to using the cafeteria."

WDSU has reached out to Superintendent Mellisa Stilley for clarification on the mold ahead of the schools returning for classes; however, she has not been able to accommodate our request.

Tangipahoa Parish School leaders address mold and mildew concerns before the start of class

Tangipahoa Parish School leaders address mold and mildew concerns before the start of class

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