School board approves Central Elementary rennovation plans

The USD 443 Board of Education approved plans Monday to renovate Central Elementary School's music and library modular classrooms to address safety concerns about the presence of airborne mold.
    The board also approved a plan to remove and replace all damaged insulation from under the roof, as well as damaged ceiling tiles and drywall in the areas where moisture is present. The district is also replacing the old carpet with carpet tiles.
    The estimated cost is less than $25,000, to be paid from the capital outlay fund.
    A previous test by Precision Environmental Services found that the mold spore count was in normal ranges within the classrooms and was 10 times greater in the air outside the classrooms than it was inside. During the Sept. 8 meeting, the board directed Central Elementary administrators to do more tests to make sure the classrooms were 100 percent safe for students.  
    The district consulted Tom P. Montgomery of GossenLivingston, Bob Helsel of Precision Environmental Services, Brent Colvin of Colvin Mold and Restoration and Meriam Thompson of the Kansas Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Safety and Health to thoroughly examine the issue. 
    Montgomery said that everything was done to ensure the safety of the building for the city's children.
    The board agreed to continue to monitor the classrooms with monthly surveys and check for similar problems throughout the district. 
    Superintendent Alan Cunningham said it was important to conduct regular surveys to maintain a high level of safety in the classrooms. 
    In other business, the board:
    • Approved Bright Beginning's application for a $397,385 Extended Opportunity Grant to the Kansas Children's Fund to serve more teen parents in the community and provide child care.
    • Honored Cindy Venard and Paula Ripple, the finalist and semifinalist for Kansas Teacher of the Year.
    • Honored Beeson Elementary School for receiving the Blue Ribbon Award for exemplary academic performance. A pinning ceremony will begin at 3:15 p.m. Oct. 15 to honor the school for its achievement.

    Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.