School district swings into action after mold alert

Officials: Students in no danger at Sunset School

    An air quality problem at Sunset School has forced Clear Lake school officials to relocate students and staff within the school building this week.  Mid-Iowa Environmental was on the scene Monday to eradicate potential areas of mold on the north side of the roof deck.  The mold does not present an immediate health risk.
    Superintendent Anita Micich said the district was informed Aug. 23 of a concern regarding the air quality in the building which had been directed to the Cerro Gordo Public Health Department by a

parent.  Due to on-going construction at Clear Lake Middle School, sixth graders are attending classes this year in the former Sunset Elementary School.  The school building had been empty since all district elementary students were moved to Clear Creek Elementary in 2010.
    Micich said action was taken immediately when Public Health notified the district of the health concern. 
    “These (actions) included contacts to building administration, secretarial staff, facilities supervisor and school nurse to ascertain if they had noticed any air quality concerns themselves or if any concerns had been reported to them.   The results of this internal investigation indicated that no one had noticed anything other than a rather musty smell from the building which was attributed to it being closed for a period of time nor had they received any reports from anyone else, staff, students or parents,” wrote Micich and Principal Dan Long in a letter sent home to parents Monday.
    The district contacted its insurance carrier, EMC Insurance, to conduct a building inspection which took place Thursday, Aug. 25.  The inspection uncovered - Read More Via e-Edition