San Benito High School received good news Friday afternoon when
test results from the potential mold in the counseling office came
back negative.
San Benito High School received good news Friday afternoon when test results from the potential mold in the counseling office came back negative.
Hazmat Doc, the environmental consultant that examined samples from the office, determined there was no mold inside the building, and acknowledged that the HVA system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is very proficient.
“We received a clean bill of health,” said Steve Delay, Director of Finance and Operations. “We’re planning on moving the department back to the office Monday and Tuesday of this week.”
Hazmat Doc also told Delay that the pollen count outside the building was eight times worse than the level inside the building. The pollen count may have been what caused three counseling staff members to get sick last week, not the mold.
This brings smiles to the faces of members of the counseling department, who for the past week has been working out of a makeshift office. The staff has been creative in their practice, and tolerant of their temporary habitat.
With only one phone line for eight people, a few computers that the staff must share and no walls to create privacy for conversations, everyone has tried to be extra flexible.
“A lot of us have been using our cell phones to call parents and students back,” said Guidance Technician Rebecca Gutierrez said. “It’s been pretty frustrating.”
Guidance Technician Linda Yetter said the cramped space has made it pretty hard to have confidentiality when having conferences with parents.
“There is no privacy in here,” she said. “I was having a conference in the hallway the other day and it was so dark the teacher couldn’t read her notes.”
Counselor Tim Pipes said the conditions haven’t been ideal, but the high school administration has done everything they can to help.
“It’s for the best,” he said. “They did jump on the problem right away, and they’re doing what they need to do.”
