An indoor air quality evaluation conducted on Childs Elementary by the Indiana Department of Health on April 30 found high levels of carbon dioxide in one of the classrooms. The results were released in early May. The evaluation, conducted at the request of a concerned citizen, found the highest carbon dioxide reading to be 1,598 ppm — parts carbon dioxide per million parts of air — in Room 206.
According to the School Indoor Air Quality rule, occupied classrooms must be supplied outdoor air, and the carbon dioxide concentration of the room “shall never exceed 700 ppm over the outdoor concentration.” In this case, Room 206’s reading should not have exceeded 1,107 ppm.
Indiana Department of Health Media Relations Coordinator Lisa Welch provided more information in an email to the Indiana Daily Student.
“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 indoor relative humidity was measured at a range of 51-63%, which, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, should be maintained between 30-60% to minimize the growth of allergenic and pathogenic organisms. Increased population sizes of mold, fungi and mites have been found to be a result of humidity levels higher than 50%.
Welch said the rule allows for relative humidity up to 65%, only two percent more than Childs’ highest reading, and there shouldn’t be any health symptoms at the levels measured.
The report also directed school officials to remove a stained and leaking ceiling tile on floor two near the elevator. The evaluation found a substantial amount of dust on the HVAC coil in Room 206, the same room with the highest carbon dioxide reading. While not a responsibility of the school under the School Indoor Air Quality rule, the report also observed a large crack in the block wall in the art classroom and insect damage to wood in Room 201.
Conversations on addressing Childs’ infrastructure issues have been grounded in matters of equity. Some parents have said issues at Childs, with the lowest range of free and reduced lunches in the district, may have been ignored because of the school’s wealthier socioeconomic status.
Previous investigation by the IDS found that the only Monroe County Community School Corporation school with more recommended or required renovations was Tri-North Middle School, which was completely rebuilt in 2021.
Bethan Roberts, the parent of an MCCSC student, said she recognizes the privilege in the "phenomenal” experience her children had while at Childs, but the situation has gone too far.
“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.”
Most concerns came up after the MCCSC Board of Trustees decided to merge Childs and Templeton in April 2024. The concept was introduced by outgoing Superintendent Jeff Hauswald as a strategy to improve the balance of socioeconomic status in district elementary schools. With the current state of Childs Elementary, Roberts said she doesn’t see it that way.
“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.”
In an email statement to the IDS, Kelby Turmail, MCCSC communications officer, said the district will be taking appropriate measures to correct the violations found and will reach out to the Indiana Health Department for reinspection.
MCCSC did not respond in time of publication with any updates.
Students will return to Childs Elementary for the first day of classes Aug. 7.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the School Indoor Air Quality rule as pertaining to carbon monoxide.
