Letter to Parents [RE Suspect Mould Sample Analysis Results]

HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
802 Drury Lane, P.O. Box 5308, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4L3 Telephone (905) 632-6300 Fax (905) 333-4661
February 21, 2006
Re: Suspect Mould Sample Analysis Results
Dear Parents/Guardians of Students of St. Mark Catholic Elementary School,
As outlined in my February 20, 2006 letter to you and as part of the Board’s commitment to keeping you informed
about the ongoing developments of the mould remediation work at the school, I am writing to share with you the
analysis results performed by the external testing laboratory (Sporometrics Inc.) on the following samples:
1. The carpet, which was removed from Classroom No. 17;
2. The eight air samples (six indoor and two outdoor) collected by drawing air through “Air-O-Cell” cassettes for
suspect mould on February 17, 2006 by Decommissioning Consulting Services (DCS) throughout the building;
3. The samples of the gypsum board paper that were collected from the backing of the interior side of the wall
cavity in Classrooms No. 17 and 22.
These laboratory results are intended to provide clarification to some of the concerns raised by the school
community and to provide reassurance of both the remedial work that has been undertaken at St. Mark School and
of the Board’s ongoing commitment to provide your school community with a safe learning environment.
Sporometrics Inc. has reported the following analysis results of these samples:
1. Sample of the carpet removed from Classroom No. 17
The test results from the carpet were not conclusive for active mould.
The laboratory report for the analysis of the carpet sample indicates that “trace mycelia and spores of
Cladospoium, trace spores of Ulocladium and trace pigmented hyphal fragments were observed.”
The report states that “the results are ambiguous with respect to the possibility of fungal growth in situ (i.e.
in the sample supplied) based on microscopic observations, which means that the results were inconclusive
with respect to determination of the presence of active mould growth.”
2. The eight air samples (six indoor and two outdoor) collected for suspect mould
“No concerns are indicated on the basis of the mould air testing carried out by DCS in St. Mark Catholic
Elementary School on 17 February 2006.”
“The results of analysis can be interpreted by comparing the type and concentrations of mould elements
detected in indoor samples to the findings in outdoor samples. Note that moulds are types of fungi. Review
of the data presented in the laboratory report indicates that the total fungal elements detected per cubic
metre of air in each of the samples collected indoors was less than the total fungal elements per cubic metre
of air in the outdoor samples. Also, all types of mould detected in the samples collected indoors were also
detected in the samples collected outdoors at equivalent or higher levels outdoors.”
…cont’d /
Believing In You . . . Believing In Us

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3. The samples of the gypsum board paper that were collected from within the wall cavity in Classrooms
No. 17 and 22
During the remediation process in both Classroom No. 17 and 22, signs of water staining and suspect mould
were noted below the 4 ft. level on two sheets (4’ x 8’) of gypsum board in each of these classrooms. No
signs of water damage were noted on the exterior gypsum sheathing.
“The results of microscopic analysis confirm the detection of two types of mould (Alternaria and
Stachybotrys) in the sample of gypsum board paper.”
DCS has confirmed that the remediation work undertaken by the Board at St. Mark School to completely replace
any damaged drywall with new, moisture- and mould-resistant wallboard is a consistent, appropriate and proactive
action step given the analysis results reported by Sporometrics Inc.
We are committed to continuing to keep you informed and remind you that updates as the work progresses will be
posted on the St. Mark School website (http://www.hcdsb.org/schools/mark), under the section called “Mould
Remediation Updates”, and letters will continue to be sent home.
If you have questions or concerns with regards to your child’s education during the final stages of this remedial work,
please contact John Susi, Principal, St. Mark School at 905-336-3915 or susij@hcdsb.org. If you have questions or
concerns regarding the mould remediation work, please contact Giacomo Corbacio, Superintendent, Facility
Management services at corbaciog@hcdsb.org or Alex Duffield, Administrator, Facility Management Services at
duffielda@hcdsb.org or the Catholic Education Centre at 905-632-6300.
In closing, the Halton Catholic District School Board appreciates your continued understanding and patience and
commitment to work with staff to provide the best education possible for your children.
Sincerely,
Giacomo A. Corbacio, P. Eng.
Superintendent, Facility Management Services
Believing In You . . . Believing In Us