Potentially Hazardous Mold Found At J.H.S. 67 In Little Neck

An environmental health survey conducted at J.H.S. 67 in the wake of complaints from staff, parents and at least one sickened student came back positive Tuesday for a potentially hazardous form of mold.

Experts sent to the Little Neck school last Friday identified the mold as Cladosporium, an airborne spore-producing fungus linked to sinus, pulmonary and respiratory ailments such as pneumonia.

A "moderate to heavy" amount of contaminants were found over a 100-square-foot area on the ceiling of one of at least five underground classrooms affected by a from cracks in the concrete above. 

Currently, 919 youngsters attend the school, which includes grades 6 through 8, as well as special education students.

The testing came as the parents of one J.H.S. 67 student that their son's sudden respiratory problems were caused by mold exposure while taking violin and flute lessons in one of the school's underground classrooms.

The parents, Syed and Ambareen Rizvi, expressed frustration at a school board meeting last week at the pace of efforts to combat the leaks — which according to the school's principal, Zoi McGrath, were reported as early as November 2008.

According to one of the report's authors, Edward Olmsted, spores from the mold found at the school could result in complaints of allergy and respiratory irritation — much like those reported by Syed and Ambareen Rizvi's son.

The Rizvis could not be reached for comment on the recently released Mold Report. 

A self-described mold expert who examined a copy of the report chided school officials for not acting sooner to address the problem.

"School officials should have already taken steps back when this occurred to remove all occupants of this building and relocate them until repairs and remediation as well as testing can occur," said Linda May, president of Warbler of Illinois Co., a contractor specializing in the handling of hazardous biomaterials.

The report, which found mold in three rooms at the school, B-15, B-16 and B-17, recommended the immediate investigation and elimination of water intrusion to prevent further mold growth.

In addition, the authors of the report recommended the removal of stained tiles, crumbling plaster and visible mold growth by a contractor with experience in mold cleanup.

The two classrooms discovered to have mold have been closed and are not being used, according to a spokesperson for the city Department of Education, who added that ceiling tiles and other contaminated materials would be removed during the forthcoming winter recess.

City DOE did not comment on the status of efforts to halt the leaks, which began as seepage through cracks in the concrete 0f a ground-floor covered walkway, or "loggia," into the classrooms below.

As the beginning of the 10-day winter recess for J.H.S 67 loomed on Friday, the status of even the most basic of remediation efforts remain unclear. 

"Given what I see in this report, I doubt that this school will be open in time for Jan. 3," May said.