Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mold Remediation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District 57 board approves emergency funds for Westbrook mold remediation
Summary
The District 57 board unanimously approved an emergency expenditure to remove and replace pipe insulation and remediate mold found at Westbrook during renovation; staff said air-quality testing will be done after remediation and that costs will come from the referendum contingency.
The District 57 school board voted unanimously to approve an emergency expenditure for mold remediation and replacement of pipe insulation at Westbrook, staff said.
Jason, a district staff member who gave the project overview, said crews discovered mold on pipe insulation in the lower (garden) level after ceiling tiles were removed during construction. "As the ceiling tiles were taken down during the construction... mold was found on...pipes that have insulation around the pipes," he said, describing the district's plan to remove existing insulation, remediate mold, clean pipes and install new sectional insulation so future repairs can be made to isolated spots.
The action cleared the way for contractors brought in for abatement to move quickly. Jason said the district had engaged Ramble, a firm the district has used for asbestos and air-quality testing in the past, and that contractor availability drove the expedited schedule. He told the board that Colfax had confirmed it could start as early as Thursday and that work could proceed while other construction continues so ceilings remain open for a single, coordinated remediation.
A parent, Vito LaRossi, who identified himself as a District 57 parent and home inspector, urged more testing and investigation before and after remediation. "Has any type of air quality testing been done so far in the current condition of the property...to identify any type of mold...and the exposure that staff and students have had?" LaRossi asked. Jason replied that the district had not yet performed air-quality testing in the currently exposed construction conditions, that Ramble had been asked to advise on mold identification, and that the district plans to perform air-quality testing once the building is put back together to verify the remediation: "We have asked about air quality testing...we have a plan to do air quality testing as soon as the building is put back together."
Board members also asked whether the district could have predicted and budgeted for remediation in the original project scope. Presenters said environmental investigation and abatement are typically handled by the district's environmental consultant and that some prior reports (for example, an asbestos report) existed but staff could not explain why the mold issue was not identified earlier. On funding, Jason confirmed the expense will be paid from the Westbrook referendum contingency and that contracts will be executed directly through District 57.
Board discussion included a referenced $20,000 overtime contingency intended to ensure work finishes before school reopens. Staff said that contingency is to cover accelerated labor costs and that any separate work needed to fix a confirmed root cause would be a different conversation and funding decision.
The board moved and seconded the resolution approving the emergency expenditure; a roll call produced unanimous 'yes' votes from members Doerner, Faye, Qualtia, Vice President Leto, Nelson, Deach and the board president, and the motion passed.
Next steps listed by staff include beginning remediation work with the contracted vendor, completing the insulation removal and cleaning, reinstalling sectional insulation, and conducting air-quality testing after reassembly to confirm the building’s safety for staff and students.
