Absences increase following Tzouanakis school closure

Absences of Tzouanakis Intermediate School students increased in the immediate aftermath of the school building closure due to mold and air quality concerns.

The first two days the students were back in class at alternate locations, Wednesday, Aug. 28 and Thursday, Aug. 29, marked a double-digit increase in absences over the highest previous number thus far in the young school year, according to numbers provided to the Banner Graphic by Supt. Jeff Hubble.

There were 28 student absences among third, fourth and fifth grades on Wednesday and 29 on Thursday.

It’s a marked increase from the 17 absences reported on Monday, the day before school was closed completely on Tuesday after officials discovered that mold levels had not been properly measured in the school building.

In his Tuesday announcement of the relocation plan for Tzouanakis students, Hubble told parents that absences during the relocation period would be marked as excused.

“If you choose not to send your TZ student during this arrangement, please know it will be counted as an excused absence,” Hubble said. “We are working diligently to remedy the situation and will keep you apprised of any developments.”

There is no way of knowing exactly how many of the absences have to do with the mold or the relocation. Absences at other schools were not requested, so it is unknown if the increase is reflective of a district-wide trend.

However, it is clear that absences increased in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s closure.

Prior to this week, the highest number of absences reported at Tzouanakis through the first three weeks of school was 18 on Tuesday, Aug. 21.

Students have been relocated to three other district buildings — Deer Meadow Primary School for third grade, Ridpath Primary for fourth grade and McAnally Center for fifth grade — until testing reveals that mold levels are within acceptable limits.

After the Monday discovery, tests were taken over three days to determine mold spore levels in various Tzouanakis rooms.

Testing for 22 mold spore types revealed one problematic strain, aspergillus/penicillium, in three rooms.

In announcing the results Thursday, Hubble also announced an aggressive cleaning not only of the affected rooms, but of the entire school.

As the cleaning and follow-up testing continues, school officials will not have new readings until Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Next steps will be determined at that time.

This means Tzouanakis students will return from the Labor Day long weekend at the alternative locations.

“We have agreed to continue in the current plan until the all clear has been given, then we will return to operating as normal at TZ,” Hubble said in his Thursday update.