Two Central High School parents and PTA members told Supt. Rick Smith on Wednesday that students are getting sick from mold caused by recent severe leaks at the Highway 58 school.
One parent said her daughter and other students are getting headaches and are short of breath. She said her daughter got better over the weekend, then was sick again after attending school Monday.
She said, "When the doors open it knocks your breath away. The students can't concentrate. They're all coughing and have sore throats."
Another parent said she wanted closer monitoring of the situation by the health department. She said there had only been two readings of the air quality since a recent six-inch downpour brought such problems that students had to be sent home.
She asked if mold problems could be addressed while students are on fall break, or if students can't be shifted to portable buildings.
The superintendent said he will work closely with the health department to monitor the Central situation.
Supt. Smith noted that a $729,000 roof replacement is underway for Central. He said ceilings that have become soaked will have to be replaced, but he said that will not be done until a new roof is on toward the end of the year.
He said flat roofs that were installed at both Central and Loftis School have been riddled with problems. He said the Central problem was made worse by recent hail damage.
A Loftis parent also asked about getting help with roof problems there. She said every time it rains it's necessary to set out an assortment of buckets and that some band equipment has been damaged.
Supt. Smith said it likely will cost twice as much as the Central roof to replace the Loftis one. He noted that new school board member Greg Martin, who was at the PTA meeting, has made that a priority.