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Officials plan for air quality tests in Harrisburg Schools

Parents in Harrisburg are asking for air quality tests in the schools, and District officials say they plan to have them done in the “near future.” ...

Parents in Harrisburg are asking for air quality tests in the schools, and District officials say they plan to have them done in the “near future.”

The Harrisburg School District commissioned a study on its schools’ ventilation systems. The engineering company, Siemans, found that 10 out of 11 school buildings did not meet air quality codes.

But the District is questioning the findings. The study looked at a sample of equipment in the schools, and the District says analysts did not perform air quality tests.

"[The engineer] admitted to not conducting air quality tests or mold tests," says Peggy Morningstar, CFO of the Harrisburg School District. "So I find it disturbing that we jumped to that conclusion before actually doing those type of tests."

One of the most worrisome findings concerned Camp Curtin Academy. The report says polluted air circulates in the building, including carbon monoxide.

But officials say teachers complained of the exhaust smell back in January. District officials say, when the wind blows north, it blows exhaust from a boiler pipe into one of its vents. The school is now keeping its air clean through a temporary system. Staff must either close the damper, or keep the boiler off, at all times.

The district says the fire department checked out the building and said the air quality was fine. But officials are getting quotes this week to repair the issue.

"I'm hoping to see that they're moving in the right direction to get it fixed ASAP," says Camp Curtin parent Laurie O'Neal. "My son who does attend Camp Curtin has complained of headaches every night when he comes home."

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