Mold and roaches found throughout school

WILMINGTON, NC — A recent health inspection score of 70.5 at E. A. Laney High School revealed a serious problem — roaches in classrooms, mold in the gym bathroom, fieldhouse and on floors, baseboards and walls throughout the school, according to the Wilmington Star-News.

The heavy scrubbing and deep cleaning operation needed to clean and remediate the dirt and mold festering throughout the school will continue through next week while the students are on spring break, the story stated.

Susan Wright, environmental health program specialist with the New Hanover County Health Department, said: "The previous school building inspection, conducted on June 4, 2008, had a final score of 71. Considering that every item marked on the current inspection was a repeat violation and the score remained consistent clearly indicates that some improvements have been made but obviously more are needed."

According to the story, a health inspection score below 70 would warrant the immediate closure of an establishment.

The 30-year-old, 2,000 plus student school is operating with a custodial staff of nine, and the New Hanover County School District plans to drastically cut that number in the next year, the story noted.

A "clean team" consisting of custodians from other schools within the district was brought in to assist in cleaning the school; according to school officials, the operation was planned before the health inspection report came out, the story added.