What's in the air at Key Middle School?

(9/13/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Concerns are growing over the air quality at Key Middle School. Several teachers have been taken away from the school by ambulance, complaining of breathing problems and rashes over the past several days and parents are becoming concerned.

HISD Superintendent Dr. Abe Saavedra showed up at the school to get a first-hand account of the situation.

Dr. Saavedra says he has heard the concerns. He's seen the test results and is perplexed just like everyone else. His position, though, has not changed. He wants the school to remain open even though some parents are beginning to worry about their children's health.

While HISD officials insist the air inside Key Middle School is safe, On Wednesday, at least six teachers were taken by ambulance to the hospital, claiming to be ill. It is the second time this week. Concerned parents dropping their kids off Friday were demanding answers.

"I think it's bad," said parent Tiffany Thomas. "I think somebody needs to get in there and see what's going on."

District officials say while teachers may have required immediate emergency medical attention, none of the school's some 600 students have required that kind of assistance. Union officials say the nurse called 911 because the teachers showed symptoms of high blood pressure and breathing problems. Union officials argue it's all caused by mold...or something worse.

"Something is making these teachers sick," said Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of teachers. "They didn't all have a meeting and say let's fake an illness."

The dispute over what's making people sick on the campus began late last month. Since the end of August, three other teachers along with seven janitors reported getting sick while on campus. HISD hired a team of health experts who last week deemed the air inside the building safe as they found no alarming levels of mold. In light of what's happened this week, some parents are pushing for more tests.

"They need to test it more and put the students somewhere else," said parent Natasha Agney.

We still don't know what's making teachers sick. A Haz-Mat team was sent to the school Wednesday. The air in ten classrooms and the hallways were tested. There was no trace of any chemicals in the air. Meantime, the city health department will continue monitoring the air quality.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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