Philadelphia Federation of
Teachers Health &
Welfare Fund
1816 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215/561-2722 Fax: Fax:
215/5618345
www,pfthw.org

Evaluation of Indoor Environmental Quality
[IEQ]
at the
JB Kelly E.S.

Evaluation Conducted by:
Jerry Roseman M.Sc. IH, OHCS, Inc.
Director of Environmental Science & Occupational Health & Safety for the
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Health & Welfare Fund & Union
[PFTH&WF/U-H&S]

Evaluation Date: 11.25.2015

 Summary
In November 2015, the PFTH&WF/UH&S received a request to conduct
an IEQ evaluation to investigate
Indoor Environmental Quality [IEQ]
& building-related health symptoms
& illness among school staff at the
JB Kelly E.S.
Our investigation revealed
significant building condition
deficiencies & occupant health
impacts including, but not limited
to:
1) Mold growth on musical
instrument cases, chairs, desks,
tables & pipe Insulation;
2) Dirty classroom unit ventilators
[CUVs] and air filters;
3) Mold-contaminated & unusable
music/band instrument rooms;
4) Serious occupant respiratory
illness possibly related to inschool conditions; &
5) Systemic problems with the
assessment, evaluation,
reporting and response to
identified problems
Further evaluation is required to
protect occupant safety & health

In November, 2015, PFTH&WF/U-H&S received a request from
educational staff regarding inadequate air quality issues related to
dirty ventilation system filters and system components. We were also
told about visible mold at the JB Kelly E.S. Additionally, reports of
adverse respiratory symptoms and illness believed to be related to
deficient indoor air quality [IAQ] conditions were also reported.
On 11/25/2015, environmental science inspectors from the
PFTH&WF/U-H&S and SDP-OEMS conducted a joint
observational site visit. We spoke with the music teacher [two other
music/instrumental teachers were out of the building at the time of
our evaluation] and with the school building engineer & conducted a
targeted, limited inspection of the:
•
•

Music Room &
Dressing Rooms A, B, C, & D – string/wind instrument
rooms

We documented conditions present at the time of our visit by taking
photographs and we also reviewed provided photographs and
interviewed the music teacher and building engineer. We found
direct evidence of:
•
•
•

Dirty ventilation system components & filters in the music
room;
Visible mold growth in Rooms A, B, C & D on pipe
insulation, musical instrument cases, inside and on top of
desks, tables and chairs; &
Excessively cold temperatures in the music room and
Dressing/Instrument rooms;

The SDP-OEMS inspector agreed with us about the nature and
extent of the damage and the need for prompt remediation and
additional evaluation of building areas.

 Background
JB Kelly is a 2 story, K-5 E.S. located at 5116 Pulaski Ave. constructed in 1970. There are approximately
650 students enrolled at the school and more than 40 educational, administrative, building
engineering/custodial, and support staff. The school principal is Christopher Byrd and the current
building engineer is Todd Greene.
The 11062015 IEQ Dashboard Master [the most recent one provided to us the by PSD-OEMS]
included findings from previous OEMS reports issued in March and October of 2015 [limited/no
information had previously been provided to PFTH&WF/U-H&S].
Listed findings were only included for room 111 [3/2015] and for room 103 [10/2015]:
•

In March, 2015, SDP-OEMS inspected classroom 111 and found that mold was present on
pipe insulation above the ceilings;

•

In October, 2015, SDP-OEMS inspected room 103 with the following findings reported:
o
o
o

Dirty ventilation system components and filters;
Mouse droppings were documented on the inside of the classroom unit ventilator &
in a piece of classroom furniture
60 feet of visible mold growth was observed on pipe insulation located above the
classroom ceiling.

Visible mold and rodent droppings are well-recognized asthma triggers.
A likely root cause for the problems noted above was given as condensation from chilled water lines
used as part of the air conditioning system. However, it appears as comprehensive evaluation of
HVAC, mold, rodent infestation and/or related deficient environmental building conditions in any
other school areas was not conducted prior to our joint 11/25/2015 assessment and that, at least as of
10/27/2015, the mold growth in room 103 had not yet been addressed.
On 10/30/2015 PFTH&WF/U-H&S reported a concern to SDP-OEMS about a possible bedbug
infestation at the school. SDP-OEMS responded by stating that they had “been advised of a concern” a
week or so prior to our inquiry without SDP-OEMS having notified PFTH&WF/U-H&S about the
issue. SDP-OEMS also stated that SDP-Pest Management visited the school and that information,
including the SDP’s bedbug response procedures, was provided to the school principal.
Of particular relevance re: bedbug response, as per the SDP procedure, is the following:
•
•

“Pesticides will NOT be applied in any child-accessible areas” and
“Environmental intervention may involve HEPA vacuum, steam, heat, and, if appropriate,
the use of certain dusts or other pesticides inside of walls and other areas inaccessible to the
children.”

 Report Highlights

What PFTH&WF/U-H&S Did
•
•
•
•
•
•

We contacted SDP-OEMS to schedule a joint site visit.
We conducted a “limited focused” assessment of the music
room and band/practice rooms on 11.25.2015 with a PSD OEMS consultant.
We interviewed educational staff & building engineering
representatives about exposures, concerns & health impacts.
We documented visible conditions and took photographs
in/of multiple locations.
We discussed/provided recommendations for effective and
timely response & remediation.
We described follow-up approaches including ensuring
recommendation implementation, data/information sharing
& communication about findings and recommendations

What We Found
•

Significant, acute respiratory illness occurring over a period of
approximately 2 months was reported by classroom teacher:
•

•

•
•
•
•
•

•

2 Hospital ER visits were required - from school [during 11/2015] – potentially linked to in-school
exposure & building-related environmental conditions
&
Persistent respiratory symptoms and illness requiring
ongoing medical evaluation & care.

The classroom unit ventilator [CUV] in the music room was
very dirty and, as reported, CUV air filters had been clogged
with dust, dirt and debris and/or were missing.
The school building engineer sprayed occupied classrooms,
during periods of normal occupancy for bedbugs while
teachers & students were in the areas
Significant mold growth in instrumental/band rooms
designated as Dressing Rooms A, B, C, & D, located on both
sides of the school auditorium, was documented.
We were informed that band instruments [and cases] had
been impacted by extensive visible mold growth observed on
the return to school in September, 2015;
We were informed that visible mold growth had been cleaned
from instruments & cases to the extent possible, by
educational staff - instruments are now in the possession of,
& being used by students.
There have been several short-term, fill-in building engineers
in the building over the past several months with the currently

 Report Highlights
(continued)
Action Items include:
1) Immediate clean up of
mold-contaminated surfaces
is required;

PFTH&WF/U Recommendations
• Short Term/Immediate Action Items
•

•
•

2) Retrieval, assessment &
decontamination of all
musical instruments

3) Comprehensive, systematic
assessment of all school areas
to identify mold growth &
HVAC/CUV deficiencies
should be quickly conducted

4) Root cause evaluation and
development of response
actions

5) Improved training &
management related to
problem identification,
reporting & response

6) Prepare a written summary
approaches to help inform
improved decision-making

7) Ensure transparency sharing
of information, approaches &
findings between SDP-OEMS
and PFTH&WF/U-H&S in order
to verify timely & effective
implementation of response
actions, and to ensure
accountability and credibility

•
•
•

•

Immediately retrieve all musical instruments and cases
that are in the possession of students and evaluate
potential mold contamination & decontaminate as
necessary;
Remove all visible mold from surfaces indicated as
“contaminated” in this report & in any/all additional
reports from SDP-OEMS;
Follow the methods & approaches used to address the
mold contamination of musical instruments at
Shawmont E.S. in 2012;
Assess all school CUVs for filter status & unit
cleanliness & address as necessary;
Conduct comprehensive follow-up inspection
activities in order to evaluate IEQ, moisture,
dampness and mold problems throughout the school;
Provide all inspection documents, findings,
recommendations, DDCs, IEQ Dashboards, summary
of planned and conducted remediation work with
PFTH&WF/U-H&S representatives and building
occupants;
Coordinate, schedule & conduct joint follow-up
assessment to facilitate verification & accountability or
recommendation implementation

• Medium - Longer Term Action Items
•

•

Determine the reasons that recognized mold
contamination was not previously reported, evaluated
& addressed [when first discovered and reported] &
develop approaches to facilitate effective response.
Ensure that no pesticides and/or other chemicals are
applied during periods of normal occupancy;

 Selected Photos

Photo 1: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Music “Dressing Room D” – Mold Growth on Musical Instrument Case

Photo 2: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Music “Dressing Room D” – Mold Growth on Musical Instrument Case

 Photo 3: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Classroom Unit Ventilator [CUV] - Dirty

Photo 4: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – CUV Filter

 Photo 5: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Music “Dressing Room D” – Mold Growth on Pipe Insulation

Photo 6: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Music “Dressing Room D” – Mold Growth on Chair

 Photo 7: JB Kelly E.S. – 11.25.2015 – Music Suite Closet – Mold Growth on/in Student Desks

Photo 8 JB Kelly E.S. 11.25.2015 – Music Suite Closet - Mold Growth on/in Student Desks [Close-Up]