School checking for source of foul odor

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- An outraged mother at Marina High School and a

letter from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health has pushed

Huntington Beach Union High School District to investigate a foul odor

and fungi growth in four classrooms at the high school.

Last spring, teachers and students in four portable classrooms

complained of an odor they likened to “dirty socks” to Principal Carol

Osbrink after a new air-conditioning system was installed.

When the smell continued after the new system was inspected several

times and parts changed, the district sent out its own maintenance to

take a look.

With still no answers, officials with the Machado Environmental Corp.

were sent to investigate in March. The indoor air quality report

indicated that the odor was coming from mold and bacteria growing in

certain parts of Rooms 255, 256, 257 and 258 caused by water damage from

leaks. According to the report, species of alternaria, penicillium, and

aspergillus -- all found in the rooms -- are known to produce toxins.

Species of aspergillus can be infectious, especially to anyone with a

weak immune system.

“I expect that when my kids go to school, they’re going to be safe,”

said parent Denyse Scarberry, who recently addressed the trustees at a

board meeting.

The odor has been confined to two of the portable classrooms, Osbrink

said. Although it is was an ongoing problem last spring, the problem is

sporadic these days.

“It concerns me that we don’t know what it is,” Osbrink said. “Not

knowing what it is or what’s causing it means you can’t solve the problem

and make it go away.”

However, Osbrink denies any evidence of mold in the classrooms.

To begin solving the problem of the odor, the district began fixing

some of the leaks in the classrooms last spring, said Ed Baker, director

of facilities.

“I assume that we took care of that at the time,” Baker said. “We’re

always cautious about that.”

But in December, the school received a complaint letter about the

order from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

“The complaint blind-sighted me. It was a shock,” said Osbrink, who

also thought the problem had gone away because she said she had not heard

further complaints from teachers.

Another environmental consultant was called to inspect and assess the

portables in late December. The district is now in the midst of

completing the recommendations made by this consultant.

More leaky roofs are being patched up, and sinks have been inspected

and cleaned. The heating and air-conditioning units have been serviced,

and filters were cleaned. The air intake was adjusted. The carpet in the

portables will be replaced with tile over spring break, said Patricia

Koch, assistant superintendent of business services.

“The district has responded to the report,” Koch said.

Teachers have reported substantial progress, but for now, the

mysterious smell persists. Osbrink speculates the age of the portables

may play a part in the problem of the odor.

“We have a continuing concern with all the portables,” Baker said. “We

continue to try and keep them healthy and repaired.”

Baker said the district’s limited maintenance budget makes it

difficult for them to keep up the 36-year-old portables.

“We have to keep our head above water until we get the money,” Baker

said.

Despite a possible health problem stated in the report from Machado in

March, the classrooms are still being used. Scarberry said that one

teacher even had an air filter in his classroom.

“If the teachers don’t care and the district doesn’t care, why should

the students?” Scarberry said.

The district has called for an air quality check today [Thursday] to

see if the recommendations have taken care of the problem of the odor and

fungi. Baker said that if a definite hazard is determined, the district

will act immediately. Although he doesn’t recall if parents were notified

after the first report came out, he assures that parents will be notified

this time if there is a problem.

“It would be nice to have fresh air for my kids and my teachers,”

Osbrink said.

School and district officials are hopeful the air samples will shed

some light on the problem of the odor and in turn point them in the

direction to find a solution. Results are expected in at least a week.

“If there’s something that we discover, believe me, we’ll fix it,”

Baker said.