Elementary School Mold Worries Parents in Brick [AUDIO]

NEW JERSEY 101.5

Recent concerns about mold at a Brick Township elementary school are causing concerns from parents who fear about their children's health.

Two mold remediation companies began work at Drum Point School on Friday November 1st at 3:00 p.m., according to a statement from the district. Work continued until early morning on Saturday November 2nd, when the building needed to be left alone for 24 hours for the air to settle.

On Sunday morning, the district said Brinkerhoff Environmental services conducted air quality tests at 8:00 a.m. The samples were tested and it was determined there air did not contain toxic levels of mold and the rooms were considered safe.

Officials said students and staff with sensitive respiratory issues were given the option to relocate to another school while remediation efforts were underway. Students experiencing symptoms were told their medical absences will be excused.

While a full report on the air quality will be posted on the district's website soon, some parents are blaming the mold for health issues. A Facebook page has been formed criticizing the district's handling of the situation, with over 100 members participating.

Michele Komisar, a mother of three in Brick Township, has children with mold allergies and noticed a decline in their health in the past weeks.

"The headaches that he [my youngest son] has are debilitating, he says he sees the mold in the corners of the classroom, he sees the fuzzy black stuff in the corners," she said.

Komisar notes she saw the symptoms coming to a peak on Halloween, when she picked up her son from school and he didn't want to open his eyes because of the headaches.

"This is on Halloween, a day when he should just want to get out there and have fun."

Komisar has not transferred her children; however she is considering homeschooling them. Though remediation is expected to be completed by the end of the week, she says a lot of trust has been lost between parents and the district.

"In my heart, I do not trust the school system anymore. I quite honestly feel extremely violated," she explained.

Remediation and testing will continue after students leave school on Wednesday, November 6th, and the district anticipates it will be completed on Sunday, November 10th.