School Board may OK contract to clean up schools’ mold

Brownsville students to begin year in temporary classrooms

By CRISELDA VALDEZ; The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas, July 23, 2003

BROWNSVILLE — Students at Aiken and Besteiro schools will begin the school year in temporary classrooms, but the Brownsville school board hopes today’s meeting is a major step toward moving the children back to their permanent campuses.

During a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in the main administration building, the board is scheduled to approve a $8 million-plus contract fee to a mold remediation company to clean up Aiken Elementary and Besteiro Middle School.

Both schools have been closed since January 2002 for mold remediation.

The contract includes a $100,000 "schedule acceleration" fee to ensure that clean-up crews complete the job within six months.

"We want to get this going," said Joe Cadriel, president of the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees.

"The sooner you start, and the sooner the school is on the way to get open."

The adjoining Southmost-area schools were closed after allegations that chronic mold was causing health hazards. Mold was first discovered at the schools around 1999 and has been a recurring problem.

The allegations are still under investigation and the subject of two lawsuits, including one involving the district.

Students were moved to temporary campuses and will be housed in portable buildings when classes begin Aug. 18.

Board members hope the students can return to the permanent campuses within seven months.

Highlighted January 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted February 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted March 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted April 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted May 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted June 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted July 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted August 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted September 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted October 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted November 2003 Mold Stories

Highlighted December 2003 Mold Stories