Peoria school relocates students for mold testing

PHOENIX (CBS5) -

Students at a Peoria elementary school will spend Wednesday and Thursday classes in temporary quarters after concerns of water damage and mold at their school.

Angry parents, teachers and concerned citizens met with Terramar School and Deer Valley Unified School District officials Monday night to voice their concerns about safety in the classrooms.

Parents and teachers said they took air samples from several of the saturated rooms and they tested positive for mold.

District officials, however, said their tests found no mold at the school.

But parents on Tuesday morning received an email from school Principal Sharon Weister and DVUSD Superintendent James Veitenheimer stating that classes would be relocated to Christ's church of the Valley for Wednesday and Thursday.

The school was inundated by the torrential rains of Sept. 8, and leaks soaked drywall, shelving, carpets and books, much of which was covered in mold, parents and teachers said.

"At the conclusion of the meeting, it was determined in the best interest of students, teachers and parents of Terramar, school will be in session at an alternative site," the district said in the letter.

The letter said the students would continue to be relocated while additional testing and remediation is completed.

Two people, a parent and general manager of a company that tests for mold, who spoke at the meeting were invited by the district to conduct their own air quality and mold tests, according to the letter.

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Peoria school relocates students for mold testing