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KINGSTON — As those associated with the Wyoming Valley West School District await the results of initial testing done at the middle school, concerns are being raised about the uncertainty of the situation.

While many district residents and employees are satisfied with the district’s response to mold being found in two classrooms at the middle school, some are concerned about the quality of education being provided while the district operates on a split schedule.

District officials have announced high school and middle school students will attend classes in the high school building in Plymouth, with high school students going to school in the morning and middle school students going in the afternoon.

Linda McClosky Houck, president of the Wyoming Valley West Education Association, said there have been past requests for air quality tests at the middle school and other buildings and the district has complied.

“As recently as last spring, teachers talked to me about their concerns,” Houck said. “We let the district know about it and we were told all concerns would be addressed.”

Houck said when school let out for the summer, teachers knew the buildings would be cleaned, as all district buildings are every summer. She said when school resumed, two rooms at the middle school were closed and not to be used.

“We were told that teachers could not go back to those rooms,” Houck said. “We again expressed our concern and requested air quality testing be done.”

Houck said, at some point, the mold became very noticeable on a wall in one of those two rooms. When the administration was made aware of the situation, the building was shut down and the split schedule format was instituted.

“Right now, I would say that we are satisfied with the response,” Houck said. “We feel the district is doing everything it can right now to resolve the problem.”

Houck is aware some parents are upset and want answers.

“It’s always easy to look back and say something could have been done sooner,” she said. “But when we told them about our concerns, they acted. The building is now closed; it’s being inspected and the cleanup will be done. The administration is doing everything it can at this time.”

Houck said teachers in other buildings have asked that air quality tests be done to assure there are no problems elsewhere in the district. In response, district officials have vowed to have the air quality checked in all buildings and to perform visual inspections for the presence of mold.

Wayne Thomas, president of Environmental Abatement Associates, the Kingston-based company retained by the district to remedy the situation at the middle school, said Friday results of initial testing should be returned sometime next week.

“We’re waiting for the samples we provided to be tested,” Thomas said. “We want to get as much information as we can get as soon as we can get it.”

Lauren Austra, administrator of the Facebook page Luzerne County Unified Parents for Education, has two children who attend the Wyoming Valley West Middle School.

“I’m happy we didn’t have to fight with (the administration) to close the building,” Austra said. “It’s a serious situation.”

Austra said she heard complaints about mold last year but wasn’t aware of any action taken to address those concerns.

Right now, Austra said the district is doing what it needs to do to address the mold/air quality issue. As that story-line unfolds, she is more concerned about the quality of education WVW students are receiving.

“With this new split schedule, there seems to be a slighting of education,” she said. “As a whole, this district doesn’t do well in testing compared to national averages. And now we will have less classroom time and students will be given more homework. It seems that education is being lessened.”

Austra said if the middle school remains closed for an extended period of time, the district needs to come up with a different plan to assure students get the necessary classroom time.

“For now, the district is doing what it should do to address the problem,” Austra said. “But if this situation persists beyond the short term, they will need another plan to assure students receive a quality education.”

Karen Lantz, who has a child at the middle school and another at the high school, said she has known about air quality issues in the district for some time. She said the district did not exhibit good judgment when informed about potential problems with mold.

“We had two rooms closed off, but they were not secured,” Lantz said. “I feel the district didn’t act responsibly. It should have acted sooner and addressed the issue.”

The WVW School Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at either State Street Elementary School in Larksville or at the high school in Plymouth.

Wyoming Valley West Middle School
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Wyoming-Valley-West-Middle-School-6.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Valley West Middle School

Houck
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_McClosky_Houck_use-cmyk.jpg.optimal.jpgHouck

By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

WVW School Board

The Wyoming Valley West School Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., but the site of the meeting has not yet been determined.

A district representative said Friday the meeting could be held at either State Street Elementary School or the high school in Plymouth.

For more information, call the district’s administrative offices at 570-288-6551 or visit wvwvsd.org.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.