School board sued over mold problem

CROSS LANES, WV — The Kanawha County Board of Education is being sued by a student's mother and a teacher for an illness the two claim is due to mold problems at Andrew Jackson Middle School, according to the West Virginia Record.

Pamela Lawson and the unnamed youth's mother allege that the mold problem began when the air conditioning systems at the school malfunctioned and broke down prior to the start of the 2008-2009 school year, and though the school was aware of the problem, they failed to address the issue, the story stated.

After falling ill with flu-like symptoms and seeking medical attention, the principal allegedly told Lawson to "make sure you tell the doctor that you have been exposed to mold," the story noted.

According to the story, the severity of Lawson's illness caused her breathing problems that now require her to be on oxygen, while the unnamed student chose to transfer to another school.

In addition to compensatory and punitive damages, the plaintiffs are asking the judge to order school officials to have each school tested for mold by an independent contractor, the story added.

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