DPI working to determine safety of mobile classrooms
For any of you curious about the safety of mobile classrooms in Guilford County Schools, below is the text of a memo sent to North Carolina superintendents this week:
To: LEA Superintendents
From: Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton
Last week, Gov. Mike Easley sent a letter to the NC Manufacturing Housing Institute's Executive Director concerning the issue of formaldehyde fumes and manufactured homes and travel trailers. This issue has come to light concerning the Hurricane Katrina victims who have been living in manufactured homes provided by Federal Emergency Management.
As part of that letter, he asked that local school districts check temporary classroom buildings to ensure that they are safe from toxic fumes. The NCDPI School Support division is currently gathering information and a vendor list to help LEAs respond appropriately to this direction. We recommend that you contact the vendors who supplied your modular/temporary classrooms to see if they have safety certification available. We have heard from some LEAS that this is available and has been provided to them by their vendors. We will provide you with additional information as soon as possible.
An excerpt from Gov. Easley's letter is below:
"Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fumes from formaldehyde were at such toxic levels that it is urging Gulf Coast hurricane victims to, as soon as possible, move out of the government-issued manufactured homes and travel trailers they have been living in. The CDC reported finding toxic levels in these manufactured homes and trailers, which we understand are basic off-the-lot models, high enough to cause burning eyes and breathing problems for people who have asthma or sensitivity to air pollutants.
I am sure you agree that no one, whether living in temporary government-issued housing or in a manufactured home purchased by private individuals, should be subjected to health threats in their homes due to high levels of toxic fumes from materials used to build these homes.
I am asking your help to make sure we protect the health of those in North Carolina who are living in manufactured housing. Can you please tell me:
* What is the level of formaldehyde in manufactured homes made, as
well as sold, in North Carolina?
* Who in North Carolina owns these mobile homes with the high
levels of formaldehyde and who is selling them?
* What are you doing to address these health concerns and fix the
problem?
* How can we help you make sure that people who might be in
potentially unhealthy homes are aware of the situation and make sure they are safe?
As a part of my concern, I am taking the added precaution of asking the North Carolina State Board of Education to direct school systems around the state to check the temporary classroom buildings used by many of our students to make sure they are safe from toxic fumes.
I know it is important to your industry to deliver a high quality and safe product to consumers. I look forward to your prompt answers to our concerns."
If you have questions about this issue as it concerns temporary classroom buildings, please contact the NCDPI School Support division at 919/807-3500.
And below is a statement sent to me on Tuesday by Guilford County Schools:
Guilford County Schools (GCS) has been in contact with the manufacturer's representative for the modular units that are owned by the district. Per the manufacturer, federal and state standards for the construction of modular classrooms are more stringent than those required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. GCS will work with the state of North Carolina as they review the quality of units across the state.
Comments (6)
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Morgan,
Thank you VERY much for providing this information to us.
Now that I am aware of the potential problem, I am, of course, concerned about the mobiles that my children have "lived in" for the last several years.
Will you stay on this and provide us with the results of the analysis? Specifically, how will I know if my child's trailer is dangerous to her asthmatic health?
Thanks again!
Posted on February 20, 2008 11:16 AM
No to bonds.
Posted on February 20, 2008 6:09 PM
Parent,
You can order a formaldehyde vapor monitor for your child to wear to see how much exposure he has. I have and will let you know the results of the test. My child has asthma and I have noticed it is worse since being placed in trailers this year.
Posted on February 22, 2008 9:13 AM
My, my, my
Isn't it a strange coincidence that this safety report comes out at in time for the bond pitch.
What about our students who have breathed these toxic fume over many years and are now out of the public school system.
Posted on February 25, 2008 6:10 PM
Susan GONE
Smarti GONE
Johnny GONE
Dotty GONE
Posted on February 26, 2008 8:05 AM
Susan GONE
Smarti GONE
Johnny GONE
Dotty GONE
Posted on February 26, 2008 8:05 AM