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Howard Co. Council to hear school mold report

Howard Co. Council to hear school mold report
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The Howard County Council will hear a report Monday about mold in county schools.

The council asked the Environmental Sustainability Board to do an analysis on studies done by independent contractors and the school system's Indoor Environmental Quality Advisory Committee on air quality and mold concerns.

RELATEDPDF: Review of mold concerns on Howard school tables

The report is expected to give insight into how the school system is controlling moisture levels to limit mold, and the health risks mold can impose on students.

"It's clear from the latest findings that the school system has room for more improvement and better transparency moving forward," said Dr. Calvin Ball of the county council. "We will continue to ensure that our educators and children are in a safe learning environment."

Emails dating back as far as 2013 show that parents contacted the administration at Glenwood Middle School about mold problems. An independent contractor found that 12 county schools had higher than usual levels of mold. 

RELATEDKey dates in the history of mold problems in Howard County schools

The school system disputed the findings, pointing out that there is no standard in place that defines acceptable and unacceptable mold levels. School officials assured parents that their classrooms were clean and continually maintained with no health risk to students or staff.

The report will be presented at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the George Howard Building in the C. Vernon Gray Conference Room, located at 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City.

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