Parents concerned about possible mold problem

CITRONELLE, Ala. (WALA) - A group of concerned parents in Citronelle is worried their kids' school is infested with mold.

Parents noticed kids at McDavid-Jones Elementary in Citronelle were getting sick and they brought their complaints all the way to the state Department of Education.

Two parents, who did not want to be identified, have noticed a strange trend among kids at McDavid-Jones elementary over the past couple of weeks.

One parent said, "They're getting really sick. They are coughing. They're sneezing, all the allergy symptoms."

Another parent added, "Nosebleeds, coughing, vomiting, asthma attacks."

And they blame dark spots they've noticed on ceiling tiles and air vents- spots they feel is mold.

FOX10 took a camera into the school, and we found dark spots on tiles and vents right near the students.

The parents voiced their complaints up the chain of command, and state officials asked facilities director Tommy Sheffield to look into it.

He just received the results of the study Wednesday, and he said there's no need for concern.

Sheffield said, "The air on the inside of the building is cleaner than the air you can breathe outside the building."

Sheffield said air quality is a big indicator if there's a problem with mold. He said these are water stains were caused by condensation from the air conditioner.

The report showed there were trace amounts of mold on two ceiling panels.

Sheffield said, “Mold is a product that's in every household. It's in every building. It's in every place you can put your feet on the ground."

As for the sick students, school officials said their study shows these symptoms were not based on mold.

The parents we spoke with just want their kids to be safe. If you'd like to read a copy of the report done at the school, we have one for you.