Teachers want mold fix

Broward union to seek independent inspections

Broward County schoolteachers say they are tired of waiting for the district to do something about mold in their classrooms.

The teachers union says the district has failed to address its complaints, so it wants to bring in independent companies to inspect classrooms within the month, union president Anna Fusco said Tuesday.

The union plans to pay for testing services.

In April, Fusco mailed a survey to the district showing that more than 760 teachers feel sick in their buildings.

About 1,200 employees took the anonymous survey, out of 11,000 union members. About of them indicated that they see doctors to deal with health issues they say they experience at work.

Teachers said they work around musty odors, visible mold or conditions that create mold such as drastic climate changes or air-conditioning shut-downs.

Prolonged mold exposure can cause a gamut of problems — from allergies to neurological dysfunction — and is particularly harmful to children.

According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control, people who are sensitive to molds can develop nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation or skin irritation. People with allergies to mold can develop more severe reactions, and immune-compromised people can suffer serious lung infections if they get exposed to mold.

District staff respond to com500