DOH presses air quality at Goddard High

ROSWELL, N. M. (KRQE-KBIM) - The New Mexico Department of Health is recommending ways to improve air quality at Goddard High School where parents fear mold is sickening their children.

The DOH action comes as the Roswell Independent School District tries to figure out if there really is a problem and if so what's causing it.

The concerns about air quality at the school were brought to the department's attention in November. On Monday DOH presented the district with ways to address potential mold exposure at the school.

The mold issue dates to 2007 with one GHS student became seriously ill. After extensive testing Paige Taylor's doctors told her parents she had been exposed to dangerous toxins produced by mold.

Her father, Paul Taylor, filed a lawsuit for more testing at the school.  The district conducted three air-quality inspections, and all came back saying the air was safe.

Then last week, after more parents started coming forward with stories of their children suffering from different illnesses, the district ordered a fourth test.

In the meantime DOH is recommending the district take several general steps to improve air quality at Goddard. Those include controlling dampness, fixing leaks and assuring good ventilation.

"Our main concern of course is the air quality at the school," said Linda Monk, DOH Region 4 director of public health Division Region 4 director. "Because there are no standards for specifically mold, which I know that's what everyone is interested in right now, the air quality is the way we feel they need to go."

DOH suggested the district adopt an Environmental Protection Agency program that shows schools how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air quality.

Paul Taylor said he's encouraged with the health department's recommendations and efforts to get to the root of the problem.