June 2021, air quality concerns were raised to IL KCSD96.

October 2021, IL KCSD96 performed air quality testing at Country Meadows and Woodlawn.  The test report detected Aspergillus and Penicillium inside the school, despite the test method used may miss or undercount the level of mold.  The report states that it does not constitute any conclusion regarding any medical effects from environmental concerns or molds.  However, the school concluded air quality is excellent and presents no health risks or concerns.

Suspected school related symptoms persisted with at least three families confirming their children suffered/are suffering from mold illness and suspect the school conditions are a factor, and two independent air quality companies recommended further investigation and testing.  

2 parent led mold DNA tests were performed measuring the school's mold levels in December 2021 and February 2022.

The December 2021 test report indicated >10 times normal levels of 2 types of water damaged building indoor dangerous molds:  Aureobasidum Pullulans, Penicillium Brevicompactum.  The overall moldiness score was Medium-High Relative at 0.6.  The test report concluded that further investigation may be needed to determine the sources of the mold if occupants have been reactive, sensitized, genetically predisposed or otherwise immuno-compromised

The February 2022 test report indicated >10 times normal levels of Aureobasidum Pullulans, 2.4 times of  Penicillium Brevicompactum, and 7 times of Aspergillus Sclerotiorum.  The overall score was Medium-High Relative at 4.3, which is 7 times higher than when tested in December.  It also concluded that further investigation may be needed.

The CDC warns against aspergillus related to COVID and respiratory illness from damp buildings:

https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/covid-fungal.html

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/archive/pdfs/NIOSH-238/0238-110112-FinalAlert.pdf

The parent led study of the school's mold levels were shared with the school March 2, 2022.

This paragraph was added 03/10/2023 - On 1/19/2023 KCSD96 was notified of additional parent led testing results.  Using respirarelabs.com Airborne Mycotoxin Environmental Analysis (AMEA) testing to detect whether or not there were toxic chemicals produced by mold in the air.  2 tests were conducted on 2 different days using stationary and wearable testing units, and the results detected mold produced chemical toxins in the air.  4 more tests were conducted with the similar results and the school was also notified.

Despite the growing number of reports of schools having mold/mycotoxins problems, there are no safe limits established for school indoor air mold/mycotoxin levels. 

​Up to 25% of the population has a genetic pre-disposition that makes them more susceptible to mold illness. (Source: https://realtimelab.com/mold-statistics/

Mycotoxins are well documented for their toxic effects on the human cell, causing a number of problems in normal cell function and association with a wide variety of clinical symptoms and diseases, including Immune Suppression, Neurotoxicity (Anxiety, ADHD, Insomnia,) Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and more.

References:  https://internalmedicinereview.org/index.php/imr/article/view/836 , https://realtimelab.com/product/mycotoxin-test/ and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3654247/

Public Schools should have a safe limit established so that parents can know their children are not being exposed to dangerous indoor water damaged building molds and the toxins they produce.

This petitions to show support to ask that:

1.  IL KCSD96 undergo bi-annual (2x/year) mold specific DNA Environmental Relative Mold Index (EMRI) testing (such as envirobiomics.com ERMI Test 1) by an independent certified industrial hygienist and to demonstrate areas of the school are at or below the normal mold level limits (https://www.envirobiomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Normal-Values-.pdf.

2.  Remediate the building, the building's HVAC, and upgrade with air purification technology as needed to ensure the school is within normal values and that children and teachers are not being subjected to prolonged exposure to water damaged indoor building dangerous molds and the mycotoxins they produce.

3.  Added 03/10/2023 - Confirm that the air our children breath do not contain chemical toxins produced by mold with the respirarelabs.com Airborne Mycotoxin Environmental Analysis (AMEA)

Please show your support by signing this petition to ask IL KCSD96 to perform dangerous mold specific testing (ERMI/AMEA) and to ensure that the air students and teachers are breathing every day, all day is safe.