Mould closes 2 more schools

Spring Park Elementary in Charlottetown and Morell Consolidated in the village of Morell are being shut down due to mould and air quality concerns, effective immediately.

Students will be out of class until at least Jan. 18. The schools themselves will stay closed longer. Ricky Hood, superintendent of Prince Edward Island's Eastern School District, told CBC News Friday that air and mould samples from the schools were tested after health complaints from staff at the schools. Studentsand teachers had complained ofheadaches, sinus infections, coughs and eye, nose and throat irritations.

"The decision was made that in the best interests of students and staff and safety for all it was best to close the buildings and to go to a temporary location," said Hood.

"We're looking at the possibility of not having students return to these buildings until September. This isn't something that we have a quick fix for."

There are 626 students affected by the two closures, and about 85 staff. Hood said any symptoms staff and students are suffering should be temporary and improve once they are out of the schools.

No decision has been made yet about temporary classroom space for students. Hood hopes to have that decision made by Wednesday in order to have students back in class by Jan. 18.

"It's a tight frame, it's a tentative timeframe, but we think we can accomplish it," said Hood.

Parent information meetings have been scheduled for early next week

In the case of both schools, complaints were followed up by health surveys of staff, and also of students at Spring Park. Air and mould samples were taken from both buildings. The most recent test results came back on Jan. 4.

Hood said the buildings are 45 years old and need to be refurbished. Full assessments of both are being done.

Kara Whitnell, a parent of a student at Spring Park, said she was surprised by the news. "I think it will all work out in the end. The teachers have done such a great job with the adjustment to kindergarten that I think they'll continue to do a great job with this next transition," she said.

Kali Simmonds, who has three children at Spring Park, said the move would be very disruptive. "I'm glad they're doing something about it. It has to be dealt with, but it's highly inconvenient in the middle of the school year, in the middle of winter," she said.

"You ask yourself, 'Are my children going to be in different schools?'"

These are the second and third schools in the province to be closed by mould contamination. Elm St. School in Summerside was shut down at the end of October.

The province has said it's working on a plan to check all Island schools for air quality issues.