I need your help! 

After 2.5 years of constant and major health issues, my daughter tested positive for mold in her body. She is positive for 4 different kinds of molds that are wreaking havoc on her immune system. I encourage you to Google what prolonged exposure to mold can do to someone but she just about checks every single box. I’ve also learned through all of this, that mold has been an issue at Del Sur Elementary School since before Covid. The mold can be seen in certain classrooms, especially around the air vents. It is also not just my daughter who has been so sick, there are multiple teachers and students with varying degrees of health issues.

The mold situation has turned critical. It's time to address this issue proactively and secure the health of our children. We need to demand conclusive testing for mold, embraced with measures that include:

1. Assess the current situation. Independent mold testing of the entire school and the HVAC system and vents by a 3rd party firm. Must be accredited by one or more of the following: Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO) Standards of Practice, the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI) or the National Association of Mold Remediators and Inspectors (NAMRI). 
   
   
2. Tests must include swab sampling, air sampling, wall cavity air samples, moisture meter readings, and temperature humidity readings of the aforementioned areas. The firm testing for mold should not be the same one that does remediation, as this is a conflict of interest. 
   
   
3. Mold abatement, removal, and remediation per the guidelines recommended by the EPA (https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-remediation-schools-and-commercial-buildings-guide-chapter-3#How_Do_You_Know In areas where mold is detected, discard and replace any porous surfaces likely to be contaminated by mold such as carpet/padding, insulation, drywall, ceiling tiles, and upholstered furniture. Disinfect remaining items. Application of an EPA approved biocide to kill remaining mold spores. Use of filtration equipment such as “air scrubbers” and HEPA fans to capture mold spores throughout remediation process. 
   
   
4. Post-remediation clearance testing by a 3rd party unrelated to the firm that did the remediation. 
   
   
5. Release the findings and reports to the community before school starts on Wednesday August 21, 2024. 
   
   
6. Allow DSE parents, staff, or teachers to provide independent mold testing, at their own expense, to ease any concerns. 

According to the CDC, exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, particularly in those with mold allergies or pulmonary issues. Children, due to their developing immune systems, are often the most susceptible to such hazards.

We need to uphold the welfare of our children and protect their environment. The impact of negligence could be catastrophic. The school needs to undertake an immediate and thorough process of mold removal and comprehensive testing. 

Please join me in advocating for the health of our children. We need to urge our school authorities and local government to take this issue seriously and address it urgently. By signing this petition, we are taking a collective stand for the well-being of our children.

Your signature can make a world of difference. Please sign this petition.