Staff Writer

 Tensions boiled over Monday as the Biddeford School Committee voted to spend additional money to address air quality concerns at the high school.

A small group of students and parents for the past few months have urged the school committee and school officials to do more to address their concerns about air quality at the school. The high school currently is undergoing a $34 million renovation project. 

During a special meeting Monday, the school committee voted to spend $39,000 on additional work by Turner Building Science and Design LLC. The Turner Group was hired by the district to do air quality testing after the school committee voted to replace Air Quality Management, the company that previously tested school buildings.

The committee voted 4-2 in favor of hiring Turner Group to further investigate indoor air quality concerns at the high school. Committee Members Tammy Fleurent and Alexandra Clarke voted against the plan; Nathan Mills was absent from the meeting.

Parents and students in the audience frequently interrupted the meeting as school committee members discussed the recommendation. Mayor Joanne Twomey, who also is chairman of the school committee, used her gavel several times and threatened to rule people out of order if their comments didn’t remain on topic. A police officer was called to city hall after the meeting as parents and students gathered outside council chambers.

After the meeting, parents and students yelled at school committee members, school staff and city councilors as they left the meeting. City Councilor Ray Gagnon argued loudly with several parents and students about his opposition to spending more money on testing.

While the school committee authorized spending $39,000, Superintendent Sarah-Jane Poli said she still must determine how to pay for the work. Since July 1 the district has spent $13,588 on testing through Air Quality Management and $2,900 for the Turner Group’s initial review.

Poli, who last year implemented a spending freeze for the high school, said she will look at the current budget to see if any of the maintenance budget has not been spent this year. She said she will work with Turner Group to develop a timeline for the work.

Poli also said she also will research the legality of the committee vote. All district purchases more than $3,000 must be put out to bid, but the committee bypassed that process with their vote, she said.

 Air quality issues came to light after student Marina Gagne had severe allergic reactions at the school that required trips to the hospital. Other students have complained about symptoms they believe are connected to the school’s air quality and teachers also have reported symptoms.

Tests in early December revealed poor air quality in three classrooms. Repeated tests since then have shown no mold or silica dust from construction in the building and administrators have stepped up efforts to clean dust from classrooms. Administrators also have worked with Ledgewood Construction to contain dust from areas undergoing renovations.

In a presentation to the school committee Feb. 22, William Turner of the Turner Group said he reviewed 18 documents of previous test results and talked to 12 staff and students with firsthand knowledge of air quality concerns. He also reviewed construction containment plans and developed a proposal for future work.

The school committee asked Turner to prepare a cost estimate for work he recommended in the company’s review. The committee approved the entire $39,000 that was proposed, which includes initial and follow-up services. The seven proposed tasks include reviewing construction containment, current ventilation systems and cleaning procedures; investigating whether the school has mold reservoirs; evaluating the district’s moisture management procedures; interviewing more people at the school and investigating past anaphylaxis allergic reactions.

The investigation of past allergic reactions will be subcontracted to a company or person with medical expertise.

Turner suggested Ledgewood Construction adopt containment guidelines outlined by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA). He said the guidelines are the best “that exist anywhere.” 

“If the workers are parading through the occupied area with dirt materials on their feet, you can rest assured you have a cleaning problem in occupied areas,” he said.

Turner said the school department has made a “great move in the right direction” by vacuuming instead of using dust mops.

Brian Phinney, the city’s environmental code officer, said he is developing a moisture management procedure for all city buildings. He said Ledgewood Construction has a copy of the SMACNA guidelines to follow and has brought in an outside company to clean the work area.

“The construction containment needed to be a little better,” he said.

Facilities Manager Phil Radding said custodial staff spent much of February vacation week deep cleaning high school classrooms, scrubbing floors and washing lockers inside and out.

Poli said there have been no new reports to the school nurse of symptoms possibly linked to air quality issues. She said school administration is working with parents of students who are not able to go into the high school because of allergic reactions. Options for alternative accommodations include using portable classrooms, correspondence courses and going to another school.

Responding to suggestions the school be closed, Poli said there is nowhere else in the city that could accommodate the entire high school.

Fleurent said the school committee and administration have taken seriously concerns voiced by parents and students.  She said the school continues to provide education to students who need alternative accommodations.

“Stop lying to the public. She is not getting an adequate education,” interjected Laurie Hale, Gagne’s mother.

Fleurent said she was not willing to spend $39,000 on work that may not identify or fix any problems.

“We have a plan in place to remediate all of this, it’s called a renovation,” she said.

School Committee Member Tony Michaud said the Turner Group “will investigate and find solutions to the current problem at Biddeford High School.”

“This is $39,000 that’s well worth the investment for students, staff and the community of Biddeford,” he said.

 After the hour-long meeting Monday, students and parents argued loudly with Councilor Gagnon before moving into the hall outside of city council chambers.

Gagne said she was upset about the way Gagnon reacted to her Saturday as she gathered signatures on a petition. She said he yelled at her when she asked if he wanted more information about her concerns. Gagne and her mother accused Gagnon of being a bully.

“I’m proud to be a bully,” he said to them in the minutes following the meeting.

Gagnon said Tuesday he was being sarcastic when he made the comment. He said parents started yelling at him about the Saturday incident as soon as Twomey closed the meeting.

“It was ridiculous. It’s really gotten out of hand,” he said.

Gagnon said he told Gagne on Saturday that the school has gone “above and beyond” to address concerns, but he doesn’t feel there is a problem.

“If it was that bad, more parents would be there to complain,” he said.

Gagne and other students are circulating a petition that asks school officials to move students from the building until renovation is complete. They expect to present their petition at the next meeting at 7 p.m. March 8.

Poli said she also will look for team building opportunities to reunite the school committee, which is split over the issue. Poli said she would like animosity at the meetings to end.

“It’s time for it to come to a stop,” she said.