Aging facilities combined with underfunded and overworked maintenance departments have wreaked havoc on the indoor air quality in the nation’s K-12 schools, and one result is more lawsuits from concerned parents seeking financial compensation.
In the latest case, a former special education teacher sued Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula Borough on behalf of her four children, who she says have suffered from medical issues after being exposed to mold and other materials while attending district schools. The children attended several district schools between 2004 and 2018, according to the Peninsula Clarion.
The suit says the schools have “a history of water intrusion, water damage, organic and microbial growth and mold” and that the school district and borough “have a history of underfunding building maintenance for K-12 schools.” The borough and school district denied those allegations.
The suit also says the district and borough have failed to keep up on annual maintenance requirements and have deferred maintenance on school roofs, ceilings and siding, “allowing water to leak in and allow organic and microbial growth to occur in the buildings for years.” The borough and school district also deny those allegations.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
