Staff Writer

 Biddeford Superintendent of Schools Sarah-Jane Poli has instituted a temporary spending freeze at Biddeford High School as the district faces mounting costs for unbudgeted air quality tests.

Poli said air quality tests done at the school this fall in response to concerns about allergic reactions of two students will cost the district $12,000 to $15,000. Those costs were not budgeted and leave the district in the red about $10,000, she said.

School officials have stepped up air quality testing in classrooms following complaints from two parents that their daughters had allergic reactions at the school. In recent weeks, the school implemented new cleaning practices to address concerns about dust from construction being done on the building.

Poli said she implemented the temporary budget freeze at the high school until district officials know the exact costs of tests. At that point, officials can look for savings by going through different budget lines, she said.

Poli said she will order emergency supplies for the school as needed. New editions of textbooks and teacher supplies will not be purchased during the freeze.

Air Quality Management has tested more than 35 rooms since last March at the request of school officials. In late November, administrators closed two classrooms after tests found elevated levels of mold and dust spores. The rooms were cleaned and reopened after followup tests showed the air quality was acceptable.

At the Dec. 14 school committee meeting, the board voted 6-1 to hire a different company to do air quality tests for the district. Nathan Mills opposed the plan. The board voted unanimously to post air quality test results on the school district website.

Committee Member Tony Michaud, who made the motion to hire a new company, said having results from a different company will address residents’ concerns about Air Quality Management. At past meetings, several parents questioned whether the company provided accurate results.

Poli said Air Quality Management has done air quality testing for the district since 2007. The district hired the company after obtaining a list of companies prequalified by the Maine Bureau of General Services and Department of Education, she said.

Poli said the district will turn to the same list to find a new company to do air quality tests. 

Facilities Manager Phil Radding said at the meeting a “tremendous amount” of work has been done to address concerns about air quality and construction dust in the school. Custodial staff has reduced cleaning during the day because Ledgewood Construction Co. has done such a good job containing construction dust, he said.

Radding said Ledgewood installed six negative air pressure machines to vent outside the school and improved containment measures around entrances to construction areas.

Custodial staff will continue to dust classrooms every day and deep clean rooms where there are concerns about air quality, he said.

Larry Mare, an engineering technician with the Maine Bureau of General Services, visited the school Dec. 10 to review concerns about mold and construction dust and determined the building was in “good standing.” During the visit, he met with Poli; Radding; Randy Geoffrey and Nick Farrala of Air Quality Management; Scott Clark of Ledgewood Construction Co.; and Brian Phinney, the city’s environmental control officer.

In a report to Poli following the visit, Mare said he reviewed Air Quality Management reports from April, September, October and November. He said school officials should continue with the good housekeeping he observed.

Mare said most building materials are concrete and floor tile, which do not promote mold growth. He recommended custodial staff clean behind shelves that cover baseboard heating elements and retest for mold. 

“There are areas that do not get regular cleaning in any school because there is no way to get at them,” Mare wrote.

Poli said she continues to reassure parents the school is safe. She said some air quality reports already are available on the district website, www.biddschools.org, and other results will be available this week. Poli expected to receive results of tests for silica this week after the Courier’s publication deadline. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.