Dallas High School delays opening

[TexasStooge]

Wilmer-Hutchins delays classes due to high school's condition

Potentially-dangerous mold permeates building; some claim district officials to blame

10:31 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 11, 2004

By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV

DALLAS, Texas - A potentially dangerous mold situation inside Wilmer-Hutchins High School is now forcing district officials to postpone classes scheduled to start Monday.

Wilmer-Hutchins superintendent Charles Matthews said a June rainstorm and a leaky roof caused the problems, which were left to grow worse over the summer.

Dank rain-soaked carpets have been removed, but an industrial hygienist now tells school officials that a potentially hazardous threat remains. Mold has permeated the walls and air ducts of the high school to the point that classes for as many as 800 students are being postponed indefinitely.

"It's very serious when you are dealing with mold and kids," Matthews said.

Matthews said the mold got out of control because the power has been out for the past two months. No power equals no air conditioning; no air conditioning equals no ventilation. At of Wednesday, the air conditioning was still out, and it appeared that no one was at the building to fix it.

Why repairs have taken so long is a question that Matthews refuses to answer.

"We have not waited, we've been doing work about it all summer," Matthews said. "I'm not going back into the past."

Some believe a lack of accountability in the past is the reason the future looks so uncertain. Parents and staff members said the mold and rot and pests in the school are nothing new.

"There are places where water has run down for months and months, even while school was going on, that should have been repaired," said parent Adline Foxx. "It doesn't seem to be about education anymore, because if it were about education the building wouldn't be the way it is."

The extent of the damage and necessary cleanup is still being assessed. Several teachers told News 8 they have no idea when, or even where, they will be teaching to begin the school year.

Even when classes begin, school officials aren't sure whether they will be held in the school, in portable classrooms or even other in schools around the district.

[stormraiser]

This happened years ago when I was a Junior in HS. Another school in my county had a mold or fungus growing all over the place. They were dubbed Fungi High and were taunted at all the Football games for it.

[TexasStooge]

WILMER-HUTCHINS H.S. STUDENTS MAY HAVE TO WAIT


DALLAS, Texas (KDFW Fox 4) -- Wilmer-Hutchins High School underclassmen may have to wait even longer to start school. A FOX 4 news station investigation exposed the water damage and clean up efforts at their campus. The unsanitary conditions are forcing students to attend classes at different places. Underclassmen were supposed to start school tomorrow. At an emergency meeting last night, Superintendent Charles Matthews said he will delay the start of school until next Monday if the portables at Hutchins Academic Center are not in ready in time.

Yesterday, only half of the 140 Wilmer-Hutchins seniors showed up for classes at the High School for the Performing Arts. But, that meant they fit into the four classrooms and a library a little bit easier. As for repairs on the high school, the principal now says it may take as long as eight weeks to get written reports from inspectors and repair bids from contractors.

[TexasStooge]

UPDATE: Things are not looking good for Wilmer-Hutchins HS!!

DALLAS, Texas (KDFW Fox 4) -- There's more trouble at Wilmer-Hutchins High School. As workers repair flood damage, it turns out many of the laborers may be illegal immigrants. Nearly a dozen day workers say they're cleaning up the school. The Wilmer-Hutchins' superintendent and business manager say they had no idea the men are illegal. Hiring illegal immigrants is a crime and could result in fines or criminal charges.

[NWIASpotter]

Wow, they just can't get a break can they.