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Parents and officials spar over portables after testing finds minimal radon, single mold spore; district spends for testing and remediation
Summary
District 20 officials said extensive radon and indoor-air testing of portable classrooms turned up levels far below federal action limits and one isolated mold spore that was remediated; parents pressed for more transparency, upgrades and clarity on older units used as student classrooms.
Board members spent a large portion of their Sept. 11 meeting addressing concerns about the district's portable classrooms after parents and staff raised questions about indoor air quality, maintenance and safety.
Superintendent staff and facilities officials told the board the district owns about 50 portables (53 units on-site, three owned by daycare providers). Facilities director Michael Redmond said portables are designed for temporary use but can be extended with maintenance; he said moving a unit between sites can cost in the high five figures to nearly $300,000. Redmond described two types of portables ("dry" without plumbing and "wet" with plumbing) and said per-unit installation estimates range from about $500,000 for dry units to more than $600,000 for wet units, while permanent additions typically exceed $1.3 million for comparable space.
In response to public concerns, the district contracted a third-party industrial hygienist to test 51 portables and…
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