MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW)- Parents at St. James Elementary School are concerned about mold found inside their child’s school and worried about their health.
Parents said they don’t feel comfortable sending their child to school, and want answers from school leaders.
There’s also been a lot of social media posts around this issue. One post sent to News 13, shows a photo of mold. The parent who shared the post said it’s a photo sent to him of a first grade classroom. Horry County Schools officials said it’s a photo from a roof leak during Hurricane Florence.
Horry County Schools said it had air quality tests done on January 21, and sent parents an e-mail with the findings.
The e-mail said in part mold spores are not at the point where they would pose a health concern, as mold spores are virtually everywhere including in the air and on surfaces.
The report also notes water stained ceiling tiles in a conference room and 14 rooms. Some recommendations given were to replace the tiles, clean the HVAC units, and in some areas, paint over the ceiling with antimicrobial paint. The district hired Full Steam Ahead, a third party company to do the cleanup.
Parents said this is still a health concern. News 13 spoke with one mother who said her daughter has suffered.
“She wasn’t the only one having symptoms there are kids with more dramatic symptoms that were sent home. We know 11 of them personally. They’re not taking a possible systemic poisoning issue, and down played it and it’s disheartening because I love the teacher. I love the school,” said Stefenay Wackerly, whose daughter attends St. James Elementary.
The school district said the mold is not black mold and the cleaning agents used were EPA standard. News 13 reached out to the cleaning company and was referred back Horry County Schools.
The school district plans to re-test but a date hasn’t been set.
To see the results from the air quality test click here.
