Colborne Central PS Transition 2011
Air Quality (Mould) Summary
(Posted Aug 30, 2011)
Victoria School site
Summer 2011
We undertook a survey of air quality for mould in the Victoria Public School building as part of the relocation of Colborne Central PS to the Victoria PS site.
T. Harris Environmental Management Inc. conducted air sampling inside and outside (outdoor reference samples collected immediately before and after indoor samples) on Monday August 22nd. Prior to the air sampling, the air ventilation system for the school had been restarted and fresh outdoor air was circulating through the building.
Mould concentrations vary from site to site based on weather, time of year and other factors. Interpretation of air sampling results are based on comparison of concentrations and diversity of mould spores inside and outside the building.
Total spore counts for each sample collected at various locations throughout the building were not elevated when compared to outdoor reference samples. There was one spore of Alternaria sp. found in one classroom; readers need to understand that it is one spore and not an issue, especially as it is not an indicator mould. However, administration chose to be very proactive and conduct a thorough re-cleaning of the classroom identified along with purging materials and retest. That retest still had one spore of Alternaria; however both of the outdoor reference samples had multiple spores of Alternaria sp., indicating it is common to the outdoor environment. The air test does not indicate mould amplification at the site. We expect this second mould inspection report to be produced by T. Harris shortly.
We also need to reinforce why we made the decisions we did: that Colborne wasn't a mould issue - just as Victoria is not a mould issue - since the mould was contained in Colborne at the time we did the air testing, and, that given the timing - with 2 months to go in the school year- we made the right decision to continue the cleaning and testing regime and not uproot everyone at that time. The major issue with Colborne is the structural issue, water penetration and humidity.
Victoria School Non-Viable Mould Air Sampling
Asbestos Summary
(Posted Aug 30, 2011)
Victoria School site
Summer 2011
As part of the ongoing Avon Maitland District School Board Asbestos Management Program, we are required to undertake an annual Asbestos Reassessment Survey for all schools as mandated by Ontario Regulation 278/05.
T. Harris Environmental Management Inc. conducted the study to determine the condition of building materials known to contain asbestos (asbestos containing materials or ACM) over the summer from June 6, 2011/August 22, 2011.
This study included a review of all accessible areas for ACM and assigned a Priority Rating of 1, 2 or 3.
Based on the investigation of all accessible materials, all these materials remaining in the school were assigned a Priority 2.
Priority descriptions:
Priority 1 ACM are highly recommended to be removed, repaired or encapsulated.
Priority 2 ACM may remain in place until major system upgrading renovations or demolition that may result in disturbance of asbestos containing materials.
Priority 3 ACM may remain in place until the building is demolished.
2011 Victoria Asbestos Survey Report
A Letter from the Principal
August 24, 2011
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The new school year commences on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 and staff are looking forward to seeing everyone! As you know, Colborne Central Public School students and staff will be spending the next year at the former Victoria Public School site in Goderich while decisions are being made about the school facility located in A-C-W Township.
The Facilities, Transportation and IT Departments along with the Board’s Senior Staff have been working in partnership with us to organize and facilitate the transition from Colborne Central Public School to the former Victoria site. Facilities team members have been working diligently at cleaning and freshening up the building in addition to the usual summer maintenance activities and organizing the facility in preparation for the new school year.
Huron Perth Student Transportation Services has reviewed the ridership information and developed routes to the Colborne Central PS Victoria Campus. The routes have been posted on the Avon Maitland website at .yourschools.ca. These routes will provide the framework for busing beginning September 6, 2011. Stop times and stop location descriptions will be added adjacent to the route maps on the transition tab by August 26th, 2011. There may be some minor route modifications over the next couple of weeks for a very limited number of riders, but for the most part, the routes have been formalized. Your family will receive a call from the school bus operator (First Student - Goderich) confirming pick-up times for your children. If you have any stop location or route related questions, please call HPSTS at 1-888-871-7722 Ext. 255.
IT staff have been setting up computers for lab (library) and classroom use and administrative use in the office, as well as sound field relocation and setup.
Our school site will be located in the section of the former Victoria P.S. site that was known as the Queen Elizabeth wing. This wing of the school was built in 1974 and has more updated amenities than the "older" section of the school, which we will not be using.
Air quality tests have been performed in the new Colborne site and results will be shared as soon as available. The Colborne Central P.S. playground equipment from the Primary and Junior/Intermediate Yards will be physically relocated to the new site. The major component, the Primary Climbers has been installed on site while the other pieces of equipment, monkey bars and two swing sets, will follow in September.
Some parents and community members expressed concern over sharing the building with high school-aged students. Steps have been taken to physically separate the two learning spaces from each other; we have separate entrances, separate locks for doors, separate alarms, and separate spaces physically located within the building. I look forward to sharing a respectful learning environment with all members housed in the Victoria Campus.
There will be some growing pains over the course of the year as staff, students, and parents become acquainted with a new location. We will all be exposed to the challenges AND opportunities that a new site brings. We will work together, as a community, to make sure that our children’s safety and learning are our priorities in every decision we make. Our physical plant may change, but our values and priorities remain the same as they were prior to the relocation, and our top priority continues to be focused on student achievement for the benefit of all our students.
There have been a number of questions and concerns about the move. To make the transition more comfortable all parents, students and community members are being invited to attend a "facility tour" Open House of the site on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Board and school staff involved in the transition will be present to answer any questions you may have. This Open House is separate and distinct from the' Meet the Teacher' event to be scheduled shortly, and at which all teachers will be present to speak with you about your particular student and his/her learning.
Christina R. Van Poucke
Principal
Special Board Meeting of July 28, 2011
About 110 members of the Colborne Central Public School Community attended the Special Board Meeting on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at the school to hear a staff report on the status of the school and what will be happening with students and staff come September. They learned that the students will be relocated to the former Victoria Public School in Goderich for the new school year and that Administration will be recommending to the Board at the September 13, 2011 meeting that an Accommodation Review take place.
The report presented to the Board follows intensive testing over the past month to determine the root cause of mould issues that occurred in some classrooms this past school year. The Colborne students will begin classes on September 6, 2011 at the former site of Victoria Public School. Facilities staff have begun the process of getting Victoria ready to accept approximately 165 students.
Board staff presented the report detailing the results of extensive testing which took place in July to determine the root causes of the mould issues. Back in the spring work had to be done in a couple of classrooms because of mould formation due to water penetration. The testing was done to determine if there were structural issues that could cause a recurrence of the problems and what action might be necessary to bring the school back up to standard.
T. Harris Environmental Management conducted the testing and then consulted with the Board's architect, Marklevitz Architects Inc. The testing revealed water penetration and humidity problems. The associated cost of the work related to correcting the water and humidity issues is estimated at just under $1.1 million. In addition to those repairs, the staff report also pointed out that future identified building costs are estimated to be over 966,000 dollars. This includes projects such as boiler replacement as the current system is thirty years old. The total building budget cost is estimated to be just under $2.1 million.
Superintendent of Business Janet Baird-Jackson indicated that the building is currently safe, but because it is in need of repair, there would be a potential safety problems if this situation is not addressed.
It is estimated that the cost of those repairs required immediately and those needed in the future represent 57% of the value of the school. Board Administration believes that consideration be given to establishing an Accommodation Review before deciding to spend 57% of a building's value to renew it. A recommendation to begin an Accommodation Review will be presented to the Board on September 13, 2011. As per Board Policy 15, the decision to begin such review is made by Trustees.
Next Steps
Facilities staff has begun the work to get Victoria clean and ready to accept students. A moving team will be assembled to relocate the classrooms from Colborne to Victoria in Goderich. Huron Perth Student Transportation Services is reviewing routes and times, speaking with the bus company and organizing communication with parents.
At the July 28th Special Board Meeting held at Colborne Central Public School, Administration committed to attempting to find the Victoria PTR number and details as had been discussed in the Accommodation Review of 2007.
The Victoria ReCAPP number was $3.7 million as stated in the 2007-2008 past Accommodation Review report. view the full report. This figure was identified as the 10 year ReCAPP number.
The detailed backup for this $3.7 million figure is in the form of an "Event Listing" for Victoria PS available byselecting this link. These 'events' relate to each building component identified in the ReCAPP database, each with a predetermined (MoE) unit price attached. The figures are cumulative and the last line, at the bottom of page 6 reflects a total cumulative amount of $3.7 million.
We also have the Formal Facilities Review document for 2007/08 available by selecting this link. This approach to capturing building detail differs somewhat from ReCAPP in that this building condition assessment (Formal Facilities Review) does not capture every single building component that ReCAPP does. Not all entries on this list are costed, but the entries with identified prices total $1.55 million.
Question and Answers
A Colborne parent recently sent the Board a number of questions regarding the condition of the former Victoria Public School. The questions and our responses follow below:
Thank you for posting the information about the Victoria facility on the Colborne Transition web page.
I have a few areas of concern that likely just require clarification for piece of mind.
My questions arising from my review of the Event Listings & Facility Review Documents are;
Q: How will the Board ensure throughout this school year that ventilation is working properly and air quality is good? The reports indicated high priority in 2008 to rectify ventilation issues and that air quality served by some systems is poor and other areas are o.k.
A: The school was built in two sections:
First - the original 1948 section, which is comprised of 8 classrooms on the west elevation - we are choosing to not using this area.
The balance of the school was built in 1974 and takes in the north and east elevations. This is the area identified for use by Colborne Central and the COPE program.
This area has three roof top air handling units.
In preparation for receiving the Colborne students and staff, the supply & return air duct systems have been cleaned & power vacuumed by a specialty contractor and the components have been reconditioned. This took place in the three weeks following the Special Board meeting on July 28, 2011.
Q: What steps are being taken to ensure the heating system and boilers are safe and actually going to work this winter? The reports suggest the boilers and air exchange systems are old.
A: Again, in preparation for receiving the Colborne students and staff, the boilers and related equipment have been reconditioned for the heating season. This was completed within the past three weeks.
Q: How does the space where our children will be coincide with the roof top areas that require repair as they were in poor condition in 2008?
A: The Facilities staff have reviewed the roof areas and with a roofing contractor completed required repairs only (not a complete re-roof of the building).
Q: How does the space where our children will be coincide with the deteriorating masonry and window sills that need attention?
A: These conditions noted in the Review are on the 1948 east section which we are not using.
Q: Please clarify asbestos and mention of PCBs in the area. My understanding is that asbestos is okay if not disturbed and I don't know much about PCBs.
A: Asbestos has been reviewed (it is required to be reviewed annually) and any required repairs completed. A further inspection is planned for August 22, 2011. Also at that time, as was discussed at the Special Board meeting, we will be conducting air sample testing for mould. We anticipate receiving the results around August 25, 2011. Following receipt of that report we will post to the Board website.
PCB is present is some light ballasts, but is contained. This is the norm in many schools that have not received a lighting upgrade.
Q: The poor upkeep of the Colborne facility by the Board over the years is a very unfortunate situation. Now we are in a situation where there is not an ideal short-term solution. The part I do not understand is why our children are being moved from a facility for a minimum of one year when I don't see any convincing results that the Victoria facility is any healthier of an environment than the Colborne facility. Perhaps I am just not understanding the depth of the mould issue at Colborne. I thought it was under control in the short term and I heard the Superintendent at the July 28 meeting say that Colborne was a safe building.
A: The water penetration and humidity issues at Colborne are significant to the point that they must be addressed immediately if students and staff were to stay there. There are no such issues at Victoria.
We were able to keep the students and staff safe through May and June through an extensive cleaning and testing regime. Now that we know the extent of the problem, we have decided the best and safest course of action is to move the students and staff.
Q:I have one additional question about the future;
My understanding is that there are policies and/or procedures, possibly legislation, with regards to how many times a student can be moved between facilities. I believe this happened at a local level with the closing of Walton Public School, the move of some children to Blyth, followed by Blyth closing and those children being moved again in 2011 but having it deferred because it was too many moves for students in an allotted time period. Please clarify and provide confirmation that this will not impact our children because of the unique situation; i.e. If the Accommodation Review indicates closing Colborne as of September 2012, our children will not have to remain at the Victoria facility but rather be moved to the appropriate schools.
A:There is no such policy, procedure or legislation regarding moves between buildings; the board of trustees are free to make decisions about possible closure and reorganization of schools. However, they do attempt to keep down the number of transitions for students. There was no deferral in the case of Blyth regarding a number of moves. When we have had school closures in the past, the Board has also made a decision about transition time for students at the same time.