Testing results are back. Is mold at this Bluffton elementary school making kids sick?
There are not unsafe levels of mold in Pritchardville Elementary School’s modular classrooms, according to testing ordered by the Beaufort County School District last week following parent complaints.
“Would I allow my granddaughter to go in and hang out in this building?” asked Andy Rowland, a private contractor hired to test the mold levels at the Bluffton school. “I absolutely would not have any reservation whatsoever.”
The school has two modular, or mobile, buildings to accommodate growth in the Bluffton area. The fourth grade building has six classrooms and the fifth grade building has eight classrooms. Both modular buildings were built in 2018, although the fifth grade modular moved from River Ridge Academy in 2022.
Beaufort County school administrators tested for mold after multiple parents complained to school administrators. State Sen. Tom Davis also spoke with Superintendent Frank Rodriguez about the issue after testing was scheduled. Parents said their children have symptoms consistent with mold exposure and administrators didn’t respond to their emails.
Principal Brenda Blue notified parents of the testing and results Tuesday, but parents said this was the first time they’ve heard from administrators about the most recent testing.
Parent Tanya Colucci wants to bring in her own contractor to test the air. When asked if officials would allow her to do so, district spokesperson Candace Bruder said the district doesn’t allow any contractor who hasn’t been properly vetted into its buildings.
“I’m personally not satisfied with that because it is exactly the same report they did the last time that, according to my third-party [contractor], were not done correctly,” parent Tanya Colucci said. “It’s not going to satisfy my request.”
Rowland has tested air quality for over 35 years and previously told districts across South Carolina that their classrooms weren’t safe for children.
“A few years back in Colleton County, we were the ones who shut down a school building and everybody was very, very angry at us,” Rowland said. He said he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same at Pritchardville Elementary if it was unsafe.
Chief Operations Officer Robert Oetting said the district won’t make any changes to the modular classrooms.
“There’s really not a need at this point to do another sample unless there something else comes up as a concern or possibility,” he said.
This story was originally published May 3, 2023 at 12:23 PM.
