Concerns about school's air quality addressed
Superintendent: At no time was anyone at risk
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School have caused concern among some teachers and parents but are not endangering anyone, according to school district administration.

Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said that when teachers became concerned about the air quality in the building earlier this year and asked to have additional discussions of specific symptoms related to water intrusion and carbon dioxide levels, the school district immediately contacted New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) for an audit of the facility and the nearby annex.

"We're doing everything we can to be transparent," Fitzpatrick said. "We have no desire to put anyone at risk - children, adults or visitors."

On March 5 and 6, Karen Worthington, a science specialist from PEOSH, conducted a survey of all 40 elementary/middle school classrooms and inspected them to identify signs of microbial growth or water intrusion. She also took direct-reading air samples for carbon dioxide, relative humidity and temperature and conducted interviews with 10 employees who had concerns about potential health effects of the work environment.

Worthington issued a report on April 3 about her findings that states no visible mold growth was observed in classrooms or in spaces above ceiling tiles. She also wrote that no wet building materials were identified, even though "it had rained heavily on the day prior to the walkthrough."

With regard to air quality, Worthington wrote, "Air sampling results indicated carbon dioxide levels exceeded 1,000 ppm (parts per million) in 14 middle school rooms and 31 elementary school rooms."

Fitzpatrick said the highest level of carbon dioxide discovered was 1,800 ppm.

"We were never at a point where this was a health hazard," Fitzpatrick said.

PEOSH Indoor Air Quality Standard requires ventilation systems to be checked and repaired as necessary when the carbon dioxide level exceeds 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in an indoor work area. PEOSH would deem the workplace above the permissible exposure limit at an average level of 5,000 ppm over an eight-hour workday.

In the report, Worthington said that the elevated carbon dioxide may be due to increased occupant population, air exchange rates below recommended guidelines, inoperable windows, poor air distribution and poor air mixing.

In several classrooms, Worthington noted that books and other classroom materials blocked unit ventilator supplyand air-intakes. She recommended removing the materials and cracking windows to increase airflow. Worthington also recommended that the school district check all unit ventilators and HVAC systems.

"Much could have been avoided if we had some heightened awareness," Fitzpatrick said. "The visit from the state helped educate faculty that some things that might not seem critical are - like blocking air flow and keeping the ventilators on low."

He continued, "The state also gave us more recommendations and suggestions and ways to use our engineering to help us have more control over the levels of carbon dioxide."

Buildings and Grounds Director Jim Van Horn, who has undergone air quality training along with two other employees in his department, said his department took the school's blueprints out and looked at all ventilators and systems, which are all operable.

Van Horn said that whereas some ventilators were being turned off or run at low speeds, all units will now be controlled by a computer to ensure that they function properly and mitigate carbon dioxide.

"Since the school district recalibrated the dampers, the carbon dioxide levels have been less than 1,000 ppm across the board," he said.

Van Horn said that all ducts were cleaned when students were not in the building. He said buildings and grounds personnel will continue to take daily carbon dioxide and relative humidity readings in classrooms where teachers were reporting issues. In addition, they will open the faceplates of ventilation units in those rooms to inspect the lining for moisture problems, according to Van Horn.

All faculty and staff have also been encouraged to submit a work order to Van Horn if they observe any water stain or water intrusion in the building and immediate action would be taken. The district will also implement a joint employee management committee to monitor progress on indoor air quality issues and to regularly conduct classroom walkthroughs.

Fitzpatrick wants parents to know that carbon dioxide is not emitted by anything in the building except people. The school has a student body of 1,200 and 165 employees.

"It's common knowledge that we have large numbers of kids in a tight space," Fitzpatrick said. "The community saw that and funded two referendums so the children can have a comfortable living environment."

The school district is currently in the preconstruction phase of developing a new middle school. Although the district has provided additional classroom space for elementary/middle students in its annex and trailers, the school remains crowded.

"This year we will

"This year we will purchase three more cottages [trailers] and relocate the primary school to another facility to gain another classroom space," Fitzpatrick said. "Everyone is fully aware that these are Band-Aids to get us through until we open the new school."

Fitzpatrick said it is unfortunate that the school district currently does not have other areas to place teachers who are unhappy with their teaching spaces.

"We are beyond 100 percent utilization," he said.

He said that although the issues of overcrowding are challenging, "our standard is to be vigorous and proactive."

"Our students and staff are treated no different than if they were our own families," Fitzpatrick said.