Elevated carbon dioxide levels detected in Childs Elementary

Bloomington, Indiana – The Indiana Department of Health evaluated the indoor air quality of Childs Elementary on April 30 and discovered elevated carbon dioxide levels in one of the classrooms. Early in May, the results were made public. The maximum carbon dioxide reading in Room 206 was 1,598 ppm, or parts carbon dioxide per million parts of air, according to the evaluation, which was carried out at the request of a concerned individual.

The School Indoor Air Quality rule states that outdoor air must be provided to occupied classrooms and that the amount of carbon monoxide in the space “shall never exceed 700 ppm over the outdoor concentration.” In this instance, the value in Room 206 shouldn’t have gone over 1,107 ppm.

Additional details were sent to the Indiana Daily Student via email by Lisa Welch, the coordinator of media relations for the Indiana Department of Health.

“While researchers have been looking at the association between carbon dioxide levels and student health and/or performance, currently there is no agreed upon concentration where any physical symptoms start,” Welch said in the email. “It is likely that concentrations in the 1800-2000ppm range would cause some individuals to experience symptoms such as increased drowsiness and headaches.”

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers states that in order to reduce the growth of allergic and pathogenic organisms, the relative humidity inside should be kept between 30 and 60%. The indoor relative humidity was measured within a range of 51-63%. Humidity levels above fifty percent have been linked to increased mold, fungal, and mite populations.

According to Welch, the regulation permits relative humidity levels of up to 65%, which is just 2% higher than Childs’ maximum reading, and at those levels, no health problems should be present.

The study also instructed school administrators to take down a floor two ceiling tile that was leaking and discolored next to the elevator. The evaluation discovered that Room 206, the room with the highest carbon dioxide reading, had a significant amount of dust on the HVAC coil. The study also noted a significant crack in the block wall of the art classroom and insect damage to the wood in Room 201, even though these were not the school’s obligations under the School Indoor Air Quality rule.

Discussions regarding the infrastructural problems in Childs have been based on equitable concerns. Given that Childs has the lowest range of free and reduced lunches in the district, some parents have claimed that because of the school’s higher socioeconomic standing, problems may have gone unnoticed.

Tri-North Middle School, which had a complete reconstruction in 2021, was the only Monroe County Community School Corporation school with more suggested or required upgrades, according to a previous IDS probe.

Parent of an MCCSC student Bethan Roberts stated that although she acknowledges her children’s “phenomenal” experience at Childs was a pleasure, the situation has reached a breaking point.

“My assumption always was that there are greater needs across the district that need to be met to achieve positive learning outcomes than putting a new roof on Childs Elementary School,” Roberts said. “But when you put it all together, it’s pretty egregious.”

Following the MCCSC Board of Trustees’ decision to combine Childs and Templeton in April 2024, the majority of concerns were raised. Former superintendent Jeff Hauswald presented the idea as a way to better equalize socioeconomic status in district elementary schools. Roberts stated that she doesn’t think that way about Childs Elementary as it is right now.

“Meeting those basic needs of all students before we start talking about these other, broader, but very important issues should be the first thing,” Roberts said. “If the whole purpose of this merger is about equity, it’s unfair to take students who are used to a beautiful facility and put them in a building like Childs, which leaves a lot to be desired.”

The MCCSC communications officer, Kelby Turmail, sent an email to the IDS stating that the district will be contacting the Indiana Health Department for a reinspection and will be taking the necessary action to address the infractions discovered.

MCCSC did not provide any updates at the time of publication in response.

On August 7, students will resume their studies at Childs Elementary.