Report reveals Edgerton problems

A Flathead County health inspection at Edgerton School found housekeeping and maintenance problems but no elevated mold counts.

Mike Meschke, head of environmental health, presented the county health board Thursday with a report and nine recommendations to improve sanitation at the Kalispell elementary school.

"The issues we encountered were primarily housekeeping and maintenance," Meschke said.

The report confirmed some of the complaints presented to the board last month by Darryl Iblings, the husband of an Edgerton teacher.

Iblings approached the health board because he said school-district staff had not taken his concern seriously. He fears his wife and other school occupants had their health damaged by environmental contamination.

According to Iblings, 12 people who attended school or worked in the building have suffered from or died of cancer over an 18-year period.

Meschke said the inspection found a moderate number of leaks.

According to the report, Chuck Cassidy, the school district's director of facilities, said that all school roofs leak.

The health inspector said the ceiling stains may come from roof or pipe leaks or condensation.

The inspection also found mouse droppings on the top of ceiling tiles and behind classroom sinks. According to school custodians, the crumbs from snacks children bring from home attract the mice.

Crumbs and dust balls were visible along several wall bases and behind waste baskets where boxes and shelves interfere with mopping and sweeping.

The inspector found staff and student restrooms had just been mopped but still contained "filth" in the grout lines and around the base cove. Urine, cleaners and other odors were reported.

"The bathrooms were pretty filthy," Meschke said in answer to a health-board member.

Two streaks of "dirt, grime and unidentified" material were found on the base cove, on the top and along the floor crease throughout the school.

Grime also covered the grout around the one-inch tiles. The inspector found no stiff-bristled scrub brushes needed to clean toilets.

"These floors may provide for propagation of bacteria or fungus (or allergens) that can be tracked throughout the building (including classroom carpets)" the report said.

Mold tests conducted by the health department revealed nothing of concern. Meschke called most of the levels "rather nonalarming."

"One or two rooms had moderate amounts but not elevated," he told the board.

The Edgerton report recommends more testing by collecting spore counts in each lavatory and rooms that show water damage.

School officials have conducted radon tests as a result of the health department's suspicion of cracks in the school's foundation. However, the results were not available at the Thursday meeting.

The health-inspection report also recommends the school have a professional assess Edgerton's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

Other recommendations included:

. Cleaning each bathroom with a stiff-bristled brush and a solution of bleach and soap.

. Repair all bathroom leaks and remove wet drywall.

. Set and maintain mouse traps on a continuous basis.

. Tighten and wrap door jams with seals to minimize pest entry.

. Caulk concrete joints around the foundation and walkway slabs.

. Trim brush back to a more manageable size (to discourage pest access to the building).

Following the Edgerton discussion, the health board voted to expand the yearly inspection of school cafeterias to include other areas of the schools.

Health Officer Joe Russell said sanitarians would take a little more time to look at other important issues such as lighting, ventilation, heat and cleanliness.

According to Russell, the health department will recheck the school after allowing enough time for the staff to follow up on the nine recommendations.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.