Language Development Center parents concerned with toxic mold contamination

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013

The Eagle Pass Independent School District Public Information Officer Melissa Gratkowski announced on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at a press conference held at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board Room that classes for all Language Development Center students will restart on Monday, October 7th, at Austin Elementary located on Madison Street near downtown Eagle Pass after classes were cancelled on September 25th due to mold contamination at the Language Development Center campus.

Gratkowski stated that there are 538 students and 62 teachers and staff persons affected by this transfer of classes from Language Development Center to Austin Elementary. Gratkowski also advised the public that the Eagle Pass Independent School District will be providing bus transportation for those students who need it from Language Development Center to Austin Elementary and vice-versa at the end of the school day.

Gratkowski also stated that the Eagle Pass Independent School District had retained Ace Environmental Compliance Services of San Antonio, Texas to conduct a study and cost analysis of remediation of the mold contamination at the Language Development Center campus. Gratkowski further stated that there are a total of 24 classrooms, including two labs, at Language Development Center that have mold contamination.

Earlier in the day of October 3rd, a private meeting between the Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez and Assistant Superintendent Samuel Mijares with concerned parents, teachers, and staff members of Language Development Center, the public was informed that the classes would be transferred from Language Development Center to Austin Elementary effective October 7th. Concerned parents complained that the Eagle Pass Independent School District representatives had been rude and discourteous to parents asking questions regarding the mold contamination and health effects on their children. One parent reported that the Eagle Pass Independent School District representatives told him that if he did not like it, he could leave.

Parents complained that Eagle Pass Independent School District representatives were defensive and withholding public information regarding the mold contamination at Language Development Center while minimizing the health effects of the mold contamination on 538 students and 62 staff persons.

One parent reported that Eagle Pass Independent School District employees admitted that Language Development Center has had mold contamination problems since two years ago and were recently exacerbated by the June 14-15, 2013 flood. This parent expressed his serious concerns that the Eagle Pass Independent School District has known for two years of mold contamination at Language Development Center and did not notify the parents nor remedy the contamination prior to the September 25th cancellation of classes, jeopardizing the health of thousands of students during the past two years.

Gratkowski advised the public that the Eagle Pass Independent School District is doing everything possible to remedy the mold contamination at Language Development Center while protecting the best interests of students.