WCCO Investigation: New Mold Concerns At Jordan Elementary School

JORDAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- A WCCO Investigation found new concerns about an old mold problem inside a Minnesota elementary school.

Parents say at least 10 students dropped out of Jordan Elementary last school year after suffering health problems they blame on mold exposure. Two teachers left, too.

The district knew the building had elevated mold levels, but parents weren't told for months because the district considered the school safe.

So, why do parents say students are still getting sick?

Their daughter has been in and out of Jordan Elementary School since she was just 6 weeks old. Isabelle Coakley went to daycare in the building, preschool, kindergarten and finally, first grade.

"At first you don't notice its happening. You just think you have a sick kid," her dad, John Coakley, said.

"She had strep throat. She had respiratory infections, ear infections. She had huge tonsils," Isabelle's mom, Jaime Rezac said.

For years, her parents had her treated for allergies, rashes and stomach aches. Until last year, testing matched the same mold found at elevated levels inside her school.

"It was mind-blowing. It was heart stopping because that was the confirmation we needed," Rezac said.

Mold trouble at Jordan Elementary dates back to 2011. A cooling unit wasn't working, and the fungus sprouted on carpets and in air ducts. The district spent $200,000 to clean it up.

But parents told WCCO two more students left this school year due to sickness.

So families hired an attorney, hoping to get a new company to perform mold tests.
The district denied that request.

Superintendent Matt Helgerson wouldn't talk to WCCO on camera, citing privacy laws. But, in a three-page statement, she said the district takes health concerns seriously and that a minor air quality issue was fixed last fall. Mechanical systems and walls were checked and "numerous consultants have advised the school district that there are no current air quality issues to address."

Neil Carlson is a public health specialist at the University of Minnesota who has studied mold for 25 years.

"There are some cases where you'll end up in these types of situations," Carlson said.

He reviewed Jordan Elementary's records. While he says nothing jumps out as an obvious problem, he does think a few more tests may be necessary and supports a second opinion.

"If you're working with a doctor and the doctor doesn't seem to be able to get it resolved and you're still having problems as a second opinion and see if that doctor can assist you," Carlson said.

The Coakleys don't need any more convincing. After missing 28 days of school last year, Isabelle started at a Catholic school last fall. This year, she's missed two sick days and hasn't taken any medication since.

"It's troubling for the kids that are still there and for the staff that is potentially still being exposed to this," John Coakley said.