May Whitney Public Forum

1
May Whitney Public Forum

• August 20, 2009

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Additional Guests

• Fred Schuster-Ruck Pate, District Architectural
  Consultant (Roofing)
• Mike Duggan-District 95 Legal Counsel
• Dr. John Barbini-Lake County Regional Office of
  Education

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Additional Guests

• Fred Schuster-Rucke Pate, District Architectural
  Consultant (Roofing)
• Mike Duggan-District 95 Legal Counsel
• Dr. John Barbini-Lake County Regional Office of
  Education

4
Independent Consultants

• Deb Ewanio-Asbestos Inspection Management, Inc.
  (Asbestos)
• Kathleen Wahl-AR Remediation (Lead Paint)
• John Dobby- Carnow, Conibear Assoc., Ltd. (Air
  Quality)

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Deborah Ewanio, PresidentAsbestos Inspection
Management, Inc.
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Kathleen Wahl

• Vice President of AR Remediation Corporation
• 22 plus years of experience

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• IDPH Lead Licenses
• Inspector / Risk Assessor
• Lead Supervisor
• IDPH Asbestos Licenses
• Building Inspector
• Project Manager / Air Sampling Professional
  (PM/ASP)
• Contractor / Supervisor
• Training
• XRF Operator
• 40 Hour HAZWOPER

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1978 - Lead Paint Banned

• Applicable regulations lead hazard not lead
  presence
• Lead content greater than 0.5 ppm
• Poor conditions
• Children most affected 6 years and younger
• Regulated facilities schools, childcare, homes
• Other rules apply to removal and corrective
  actions

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• Lead Survey / Testing of Entire School
• 1929, 1950, 1959-60 Construction
• How was testing done?
• Visually inspected areas
• Determined homogeneous areas
• XRF Spectrum Analyzer and paint chips
• Homogeneous Areas
• Similar construction, components, materials,
  paint histories, maintenance
• What Was Tested?
• Walls, baseboards, window frames and sills, doors
  and frames, lockers, and painted handrails, etc.

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Lead Found

• 1929 window sills
• 1950 entry double doors and frames and gym doors
  and frames painted dark blue classroom door
  frames on lower level and 1st floor painted dark
  blue door frames on the 2nd floor painted dark
  brown
• 1959-60 classroom door frames painted dark blue
  tested inconclusive treated as positive double
  door frame in corridors and library painted dark
  blue tested inconclusive treated as positive

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• No lead hazards found
• Surfaces have been painted several times since
  1978
• Building is clean and well-maintained
• School meets applicable regulations
• All painted surfaces are intact to fair
  condition
• Fair condition means for large areas 2 square
  feet. For small areas less than or equal to 10
  of the total surface area of the component
• Fair condition not considered to be lead paint
  hazards but should be repaired or monitored

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Recommendations

• Inspect areas
• Correct any damage while still small using lead
  safe practices
• Good housekeeping

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John M. Dobby, CIH, CSP

• Senior Technical Consultant
• Carnow, Conibear Assoc., Ltd.

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Carnow, Conibear Assoc., Ltd.

• Company info
• Established 1975 Bert Carnow, MD, MPH Shirley
  Conibear, MD, MPH
• Shirley Conibear, Pres., Carnow Conibear
• Environmental Health Safety (EHS) Consulting
• 65 person firm, Chicago based
• Shirley Conibear, Pres., OMS Ltd.
• Occ. Health Clinic Medical exams - OMS
• Corporate Medical Director Fortune 500s
• EHS Occupational Medicine a UNIQUE firm

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Carnow, Conibear Assoc., Ltd.

• Indoor Air Quality
• Conducted 1000s of IAQ, asbestos, mold
  investigations
• Proactive Investigations
• Reactive Investigations (complaint based)
• Asbestos Consulting, Abatement Project
  Management
• Commercial and school surveys, inspections,
  Operations Maintenance plans

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Carnow, Conibear Assoc., Ltd.

• John M. Dobby, CIH, CSP
• More than 25 years EHS experience
• Certified in Comprehensive Practice of Industrial
  Hygiene, and Certified Safety Professional
• Certified in sub-specialty area of Indoor
  Environmental Quality (one of only four
  consultants in the Chicago area)
• Member AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality
  Committee
• Co-author AIHA publication The Indoor Air
  Quality Investigators Guide (2007)
• Conducted or directed several 100 IAQ, mold
  investigations

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May Whitney Elementary School

• Reviewed previous consultants mold report
• No indication mold growth was a problem report
  dated April, 2008
• Aug. 17 Carnow Conibear mold inspection
• No visible mold growth or unusual conditions
• Mold air sample results were normal

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May Whitney ForumAugust 20, 2009

• Previously Submitted Questions

19
8/7/09 Thank you for sponsoring the information
session on the conidition of May
Whitney.   During the open house held at May
Whitney this Spring, I noticed a strong, knock
you over,  "moldy gym socks" odor coming from the
music room. What is/was the cause of this odor?
How has it been remediated?   Along with some
other parents we couldn't determine any
particular cause or source from looking
around.   I look forward to hearing from you. CM
20
8/14/09 I just finished a tour of the facilities
at May Whitney.  I inspected the music room along
with our Director of Facilities and Grounds. 
Neither one of us could detect a "gym socks"
odor.  We are conducting air quality checks at
May Whitney early next week.  We will make sure
that we test in that area.  We plan on having the
results in time to share them at the forum on
Thursday.  I will e-mail you if I get them
sooner.  Thanks for your inquiry. Mike Egan
21
8/19/09 This background on the situation may
give some insight.Had you encountered the same
odor we did, it was very strong and you couldn't
miss it. When I  looked through the window of the
music room I could smell the odor coming through
the closed door. That caused me to enter the
room.There's nothing apparent in the room to
smell, such as carpet. The locker room in the
floor below it, didn't smell, opposite of what I
expected.The day of the open house it rained
hard all day. That probably caused the odor. So
my guess is that there must be a moisture issue
above the music room. At the time, I saw no
apparent way to investigate what's above the
music room.This also leads me understand the
risk of error I've heard about expensive Air
Quality Tests due to the variables in
environmental factors. Wet versus dry day, air
flow etc. CM
22
8/8/09 I do have a question to present in
regards to May Whitney. I would like to know if
there is any risk for exposure to anything
harmful when the doors between the old May
Whitney and the new May Whitney are open. Next
year, all of the early childhood classes will be
in the connecting hallway near the doors. The
early childhood program does have students with
severe environmental allergies and other medical
concerns. If there is the possibility for the air
coming in to be harmful what can be done to
ensure these doors stay closed? I know the doors
are sometimes open to access the many things
stored there. JG
23
8/11/09 Occasionally, the doors from the May
Whitney Elementary School are opened to allow
access to/from the old abandoned May Whitney
building for maintenance people going to do their
building checks.  The air systems in the new May
Whitney are "positive pressure" which means that
air moves from May Whitney to the old abandoned
building through the door when it is opened.  In
the old abandoned building, the water and
moisture has been removed and the mold was
removed quite some time ago.  We do run
dehumidifiers to take the summer moisture out of
the air.  We occasionally run some of the air
systems in the abandoned building to bring in
fresh air. There are no environmental hazards in
the abandoned building.   I personally am in the
abandoned building almost every day, and I find
no objectionable conditions other than a little
dust and dirt in the building. Rick Marzec
24
8/11/09 Hi Dr. Egan,   I have a few questions
for the August 20th Community Forum. First, does
MW have a proper air ventilation system? If it
does not, are CO2 levels going to be monitored in
the classrooms? Is there a plan to correct the
air ventilation system? Second, are all
construction and asbestos abatement projects
completed for the year? Third, where
specifically does the asbestos remain in MW? What
materials in classrooms have not been tested for
asbestos? Finally, what air quality tests are
scheduled at MW in the future?   Thank you,   LT
25
8/12/09 First, does MW have a proper air
ventilation system? If it does not, are CO2
levels going to be monitored in the classrooms?
Is there a plan to correct the air ventilation
system? Answer  MW has a proper and code
compliant air ventilation systems.  This summer
we replaced all of the temperature controls to
make sure that these units operate properly and
bring in proper amounts of outside air.  We also
replaced the filters this summer and we will
replace them again during the Christmas and
spring breaks (which is our normal process for
all of the schools).  We will be doing sporadic
checking of CO2 levels to make sure that the
proper amounts of outside air are coming in to
the rooms. Second, are all construction and
asbestos abatement projects completed for the
year?   Answer  All asbestos abatement projects
were completed during the spring break. 
Construction projects are 98 done today and will
be 100 done next week.
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Third, where specifically does the asbestos
remain in MW? What materials in classrooms have
not been tested for asbestos?   Answer  There
is minor amounts of asbestos on some of the
piping in mechanical rooms, in floor tile and
mastic, and inside some bricks.   Every 6 months
the asbestos is inspected by a licensed
inspector, and if any of the material needs
resealing, it is completed within a few weeks
after the inspection.  In February the building
was inspected and one pipe fitting looked
marginal so we encapsulated the material.  We are
due for another inspection next week.  We tested
for asbestos in the air during the spring break
and all tests came back negative.  In 1989 an
extensive study of all areas and materials was
conducted by an asbestos consultant to identify
all materials that potentially contain asbestos. 
Since that time, we have removed more than 75 of
the asbestos containing materials.Finally, what
air quality tests are scheduled at MW in the
future?   Answer  We will be doing air quality
testing next week before school starts to obtain
a baseline and then we will test random
areas each quarter in the future (Tested
8/17/09).
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8/14/09 Q. Did Illinois Dept. of Public Health
come back in and inspect the building since it's
last report on December 29, 2008?  It would be
reasonable to expect that our district has
corrected the outstanding issues.  For example
the ventilation in rooms 214, 218, 221, 222,
223,  224.    Also the proper CO2 reading could
not be done due to the weather. A. The IDPH did
not come back in to inspect the building since
Dec 29, 2008. Ventilation and CO2 items were
corrected (8/19/09). Q. Was the carpet ever
replaced that is referred to in the June 30th
2008 letter?  The carpet was wet less than 48
hours, but was it more than 24??  If so, from
IDPH, they recommended replacing the carpet.A.
IDPH did not recommend replacing the carpet. It
was not replaced as it was wet less than 48
hours. Q. Has the district implemted the Tools
for Schools EPA program?  A. Will be
implemented in all schools. Furthermore, our new
Facilities Director Rick Marzec spent one week in
training with EPA on Tools for Schools in 2008
and 2006.
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Q.  I see in the June 30th 2008 IDPH letter that
30 people responded to a questionaire/survey.  Of
the 30 responses, 13 had complaints.  That
calculates to 43 not 22 as it states in the
letter.  I think they did 13/60 which is biased
assuming the non responses were negative. 
Likewise, 8 out of the 30 (27) complained about
air circulation and stuffiness.  And 6 out of 30,
20 complained about odors.  (My husband Chris
has also e-mailed you about the odor we, with
other parents, experienced in the orchestra
room.  It was horrible!) Regarding the health
symptoms, if you calculate the percentages
correctly based upon the 30 total responses you
getPercentage    Responses out of 30    3   
1    Eye irritation10    3    Sinus
irritation3    1    Sinus infection7    2   
dry/sore throat13    4    cough7    2   
wheezing3    1    difficulty breathing3   
1    chest pain7    2    headaches 3   
1    fatigue/drowsiness3    1    extreme
laryngitis20    6    allergiesA. IDPH
responded and put together the percentages. All
of the 7 recommendations they suggested were
implemented. None of these 7 suggestions were
directives or mandates.
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Q.  Are the HVAC filters being changed quarterly,
not twice per year?? A. Filters are changed just
before school starts in August, during Winter
Break and during the Spring Break each year.Q. 
It seems like the district is contradicting
itself.  On the one hand the district hired and
paid for mold testing which showed humidity
levels of 99.9 - clearly their readings were
incorrect as that would indicate heavy fog. 
Likewise, in almost all the IDPH letters they
suggest not to rely on mold testing.  So the
district is publicly saying "the building has
been tested by independent environmental testing
agencies and deemed safe" - these tests obviously
were incorrect and then the IDPH over and over
again says not to rely on those tests.  I think
it is unreliable to point to these tests for any
assurance of air quality.  I actually think the
district should get it's money back since the
results are not accurate in any case.  A. The
District performed its due diligence by
inspecting for visible mold which EPA recommends
and testing for mold and/or mold spores. Both
showed that there was no mold in the building.
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• Q.  What is the districts contingency plan if
  this school was deemed hazardous?  It seems like
  the district only wants to prove that it is safe
  without any objectivity.  Would you bring
  trailers to replace the worst areas?  Would you
  build another school?  Are there any emergency
  funds available to support these efforts??  What
  are the plans for the old MW?  New MW????A.
  The District will assess any concern and involve
  consultants and governmental experts to put
  together a plan for action. Of utmost importance
  is the safety of the students and the educational
  process. We will do what is necessary to carry
  out our mission.
• Q. As a parent with a child who has mold
  allergies, I am very concerned.  I would much
  prefer to see her at a cleaner building.  It is
  very suspicious when these issues are continually
  raised and it appears they get squashed/minimized.
    I am hopeful that your administration can
  correct this situation once and for all. 
• All of our buildings have the same high cleaning
  standards. In February, the District hired a new
  Director (which was previously outsourced to a
  contractor) to improve all aspects of facilities
  in the District. We recently wrote more
  stringent cleaning specifications and hired (July
  1st) a new cleaning, grounds and maintenance
  contractor to improve all of these three
  functions.
• SM

31
8/17/09 Mr. Marzec,  I have a few follow-up
questions from the answers to LTs questions
below.   With respect to her third question,  I
amconfused.  I have a copy of the Asbestos
Survey that was completed in April2007.  I know
we did some asbestos abatement in June of 2008
and again overspring break of this year.  It
would seem to me that the asbestos remainingin
the building would be(See attached file
asbestos survey.pdf)  minus what was abated in
2008 andover spring break of this year.Can you
explain where I am mistaken?With respect to her
forth question, specifically which hazards will
you betesting for  i.e.  asbestos, mold, both or
some other hazard(s).Also, can you post the
1989 study that you refer to below on the
website?I think it will clear up many issues.
32
8/16/09 Dr. Egan, I would like to inquiry about
all of the areas in the asbestossurvey that are
listed as inaccessible.  I plan on going through
the reportand hitting all of these areas.  It
would be very helpful if you couldpublish it on
the website in advance of the meeting so that if
peoplewanted to follow along they could.  I am
attaching my copy that I FOIA'dlast year. My
copy is missing the table of contents and a cover
page. (See attached file asbestos
survey.pdf)I would also like to know how many
water leaks (roof leaks or other
waterintrusions) there were at May Whitney last
year (please specify whether itis calendar year
or school year) and how many occurred in previous
years?Where were the leaks and what was done as
a result of the leaks?I would like to ask  a
series of questions about the process and
protocolsof the asbestos testing and
inspections.
33
8/17/09 Mr. Marzec, I have a few follow-up
questions from the answers to LTs questions
below. With respect to her third question, I
am confused. I have a copy of the Asbestos
Survey that was completed in April 2007. I know
we did some asbestos abatement in June of 2008
and again over spring break of this year. It
would seem to me that the asbestos remaining in
the building would be (See attached file
asbestos survey.pdf) minus what was abated in
2008 and over spring break of this year. Can you
explain where I am mistaken? 8/19/09 A. You are
correct. I did not identify each specific area
as was identified in the report. I summarized the
report by stating that small amounts of ACM or
potentially asbestos containing materials are in
pipe insulation in some mechanical rooms, in some
vinyl floor tile, in some vinyl floor tile mastic
and in some cement type blocks/bricks.
34
With respect to her forth question, specifically
which hazards will you betesting for  i.e.
 asbestos, mold, both or some other hazard(s).
A. We will test periodically for airborne
asbestos, IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) parameters of
temperature, humidity, CO, CO2 and fungal spore
counts, as well as performing inspections both
with consultants and with District personnel.
35

• Also, can you post the 1989 study that you refer
  to below on the website? I think it will clear
  up many issues.
• A. The study is 2 thick and is only part of the
  story. Since the study was made, documentation
  of testing and ACM removal is about 2 thick in
  the May Whitney complex due to the extensive ACM
  removal during construction/remodeling projects.
  We will make a copy available for review at the
  District Office.

36

• 8/18/09
• Could you please post the exact questions and
  answers on the District 95 website and dicuss at
  the meeting.  Thank you.
•  How many square feet of badly peeling paint
  exits as shown in the Environ Mold report. (Phot
  3)
•  Have the areas of peeling paint(above the
  cieling tiles)been tested for lead?
•  If so, How was it tested? Does it contain lead?
  Could you please provide these written results
  and how the conclusions were obtained?
•  It is the communities understanding that there
  are areas such as door frames and window sills
  that contain lead paint.  Rick Marzek said that
  the custodians would be asked to periodically
  asses the condition of these areas and alert
  supervisors if they noticed any deteriation.  Has
  this been done?  Is there any additional system
  in place to monitor the areas that contain the
  lead? If so, what is it?
•  Are there any other areas above the cieling that
  has been inspected?  If so, could you provide the
  results and pictures of those areas?  And were
  they tested for lead?

37

• Where are the locations of the remaining
  Asbestos?
•  Which areas in May Whitney are not accessable
  because of Asbestos?
•  Please post all pertinant reports on the website
  so community members can bring copies to the
  forum.
•  How many water leaks did May Whitney have last
  year?  What is the location of each? How was it
  determined none of the remaining Asbestos was
  damaged by any water from each leak?
•  Lastly, one of the community members was at May
  Whitney to check registration last week for their
  children and the LZ Fire Department was trianing
  that day, and one of the people told them not to
  go past the green door because yhey may get sick
  from the bacteria and mold.  Are students going
  to be going past the Green door?  And has it been
  tested and determined safe for the students to go
  past the Green Doors? 
• ML

38
8/18/09 How many square feet of badly peeling
paint exits as shown in the Environ Mold report.
(Phot 3) A. About three square feet (8/19/09).
  Q. Have the areas of peeling paint(above the
cieling tiles)been tested for lead? A. We tested
the paint on the wall four foot from the wall and
it was negative. This is the same paint that is
peeling above the ceiling.   Q. If so, How was
it tested? Does it contain lead? Could you please
provide these written results and how the
conclusions were obtained? A. An outside
licensed lead paint consultant used an X-ray
machine to test.   Q. It is the communities
understanding that there are areas such as door
frames and window sills that contain lead paint. 
Rick Marzek said that the custodians would be
asked to periodically asses the condition of
these areas and alert supervisors if they noticed
any deteriation.  Has this been done?  Is there
any additional system in place to monitor the
areas that contain the lead? If so, what is
it? A. The lead paint consultant surveyed all of
the areas where lead paint was found. Primarily
one section of the building had window sills and
another had door frames with lead paint. The
consultant found the painted surfaces to be in
very good condition. Checks are performed by
Rick Marzec, his staff and maintenance personnel
whenever they are in the rooms or the building.
A formal inspection will be conducted quarterly
starting in the fall. The last formal inspection
by the consultant was in April 2009.
39
Are there any other areas above the cieling that
has been inspected?  If so, could you provide the
results and pictures of those areas?  And were
they tested for lead? A. 105 tests for lead paint
were completed by the consultant covering a
representative sample of the materials that might
contain lead paint in the school.   Q. Where are
the locations of the remaining Asbestos? A.
Small amounts of ACM or potentially asbestos
containing materials are in pipe insulation in
some mechanical rooms, in some vinyl floor tile,
in some vinyl floor tile mastic and in some
cement type blocks/bricks. The amounts of ACM
are small and each year District 95 tries to
remove more of the ACM. We believe that over 75
of the ACM has been removed from the May Whitney
elementary school.   Q. Which areas in May
Whitney are not accessable because of
Asbestos? A. None   Q. Please post all pertinant
reports on the wertinent community members can
bring copies to the forum. A. Documentation for
reports is about two feet thick. A summary was
presented to the Board of Education in May 2009
which stated that the District was in compliance
with all codes and regulations, and that the
schools are safe, and this report was attached to
the forum announcement. If you did not receive
it please let us know.
40

• Q. How many water leaks did May Whitney have
  last year?  What is the location of each? How was
  it determined none of the remaining Asbestos was
  damaged by any water from each leak?
•  
• In the last year there were 6 leaks in classrooms
  and 4 in non-classroom areas. In April, air
  samples were taken inside the schools and all
  samples tested negative for airborne asbestos.
• Lastly, one of the community members was at May
  Whitney to check registration last week for their
  children and the LZ Fire Department was trianing
  that day, and one of the people told them not to
  go past the green door because yhey may get sick
  from the bacteria and mold.  Are students going
  to be going past the Green door?  And has it been
  tested and determined safe for the students to go
  past the Green Doors?
• A. There are no green doors, all doors are blue
  or brown. The air has been tested and the
  results show that the air is safe and no concern
  thresholds have been measured.

41
8/19/09 My concerns regarding the asbestos at
May Whitney pertain to the number of areas deemed
"inaccessible for inspection". In quickly
reviewing the report I found 24 such areas, many
of which pertain to the ceiling.  Are we expected
to just assume that these areas could not pose a
risk to our children even though they have not
been inspected?I have been advised that there
have been leaks in the roof of the building, as
many as 16 I believe. If it is not know exactly
what is between the ceiling and the roof in these
areas, how can anyone honestly say the school is
completely safe for the children. What is going
to be done regarding this issue? JC
42
(No Transcript)
43
8/19/09 I have some questions and concerns
regarding the old "Print Shop" that has been
converted into a classroom.  I believe it is room
116.  Can the district provide the history of the
type of equipment and chemicals used throughout
the years in that room? I am sure in recent years
it was photo copiers but since the school
is extremely old I am concerned about what was
used in the past.  NH
44

• 8/20/09
• Regarding the print shop in room 116, I do not
  have any info on what chemicals were used many
  years ago.  When I came in Feb 2009 the room had
  no printing equipment and it was being used as a
  general workroom.  We took out the floor tile and
  mastic since it was ACM.  We put in a new ceiling
  and painted all of the walls.  We basically
  sealed what was there.  For the simple printing
  we did (I did find an old mimeograph machine), we
  did not use a lot of chemicals other than ink and
  thinner to clean the ink off.  Some benzene was
  probably in the print ink that would have
  dissipated a long time ago. We will have to
  research what the room was used for prior to the
  Print Shop occupying that space.