4 years ago
Many parents in Potomac, Maryland are hoping to get answers about what the school system will do to keep their kids from getting sick. Some portable classrooms at Bells Mill Elementary have been closed because of mold, forcing dozens of students back into the already overcrowded main building. A few months ago, these portables were places of laughter and learning, but lurking behind the walls was something toxic.
Greer Dellafiora's daughter spent four months in the portable with her 4th grade class and got terribly sick.
Greer began sharing her story with other parents and soon discovered her child wasn't alone. Other children and a teacher suffered from headaches and breathing problems, all associated with the mold found inside the portables.
Three portables are now closed, two permanently. A third is being cleaned and may open again soon. Meantime, 70 students are inside the already overcrowded school, using every available inch of space. Parents say closets have become classrooms and some students are using shelves as desks. But they add it didn't have to be this way.
The PTA at Bells Mill met with the cluster superintendent Tuesday night. The school system has promised to replace the moldy portables with brand new ones next year. But that's four more months of learning in cramped closets and other storage areas.
Written By Cindy Pena 9 News
