web1_AP16294059167017.jpg

Presidential debate: Bitter right to the end

web1_gavel.jpg

Dupont man charged in Exeter wreck pleads guilty

<p>LARKSVILLE &#8212; The Wyoming Valley West School Board hired a firm to deal with the mold problem at the district&#8217;s middle school at Wednesday night&#8217;s meeting.</p><p>The board voted to retain Datom Environmental Cleaning Services of Dunmore at an estimated cost of $61,860. The Chester Street school has been closed since dangerous levels of mold were found in the building last month.</p><p>The middle school students have been sharing the high school, using a split schedule, since then.</p><p>Exposure to mold can cause a variety of health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies or with compromised immune systems can have more severe reactions.</p><p>The decision did not come without a bit of controversy, however, as several parents voiced concerns.</p><p>Board President Joe Mazur said the decision was one made by the board and not be attendees of the meeting.</p><p>&#8220;What about these 500 people,&#8221; asked Paul Gardner, a parent of a student in the district who also attended Tuesday&#8217;s informational meeting.</p><p>&#8220;If we had to rely on those 500 people, we would be talking to people like you all night,&#8221; Mazur said.</p><p>When parents reacted to the statement, Mazur quickly apologized.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I could only take so much.&#8221;</p><p>He then refused to hear additional comments from the public.</p><p>Parent Karen Lantz asked district Solicitor Charles Coslett why information regarding mold results had not been released to the public.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want this issue tried in the court of public opinion,&#8221; Coslett said. &#8220;There is also the potential for future litigation.&#8221;</p><p>Coslett said there was no litigation pending as of Wednesday.</p><p>Stacy Miller, a parent of a student at the middle school and another at the high school, voiced concerns for high school students, especially juniors and seniors preparing to enter college.</p><p>Miller said she had been understanding of the difficult decisions the board had to make until, while watching a video of last night&#8217;s meeting, she realized that hours would need to be made up.</p><p>She said that her son, who takes advanced placement classes, came home from school each day and studied from early afternoon until late at night.</p><p>&#8220;High school students don&#8217;t have time to make up hours,&#8221; she said.</p><p>She also expressed concern about preparation for the advanced placement testing, which students are required to pass to get full credit for courses. The testing takes place in the spring.</p><p>&#8220;If students are struggling, let their teachers know. Let us know,&#8221; said Mazur. &#8220;We certainly don&#8217;t want students to fail.&#8221;</p><p>School board member Gary Evans, who oversees the building and grounds committee, told attendees of the meeting that the custodial staff will vigorously maintain the ventilation system once students are back in the building.</p><p>&#8220;We will be provided with a diagram of fans,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Our goal is to keep fresh air coming in and get stale air out.&#8221;</p><p>District Superintendent Irvin Deremer told the public that the district was committed to preventing any future problems with mold.</p><p>Deremer said he believed students would be back in the middle school and that high school students would be back on their normal schedule by Thanksgiving.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Wyoming-Valley-West-Middle-School-6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West. 9/27/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Wyoming-Valley-West-Middle-School-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West. 9/27/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wyoming Valley West hires firm to deal with mold problem at middle school