From: CINDY POWELL

Sent: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 4:00 PM

To: JULIE HARCROW <jharcrow@aisd.net>
Cc: MICHELLE WILMOTHSENATO <mwilmoth@aisd.net>; MICHAEL HILL
<mhill4@aisd.net>; LESLIE JOHNSTON <ljohnsto@aisd.net>; WILLIAM HORN
<whorn@aisd.net>; MARCELO CAVAZOS <MCavazos@aisd.net>
Subject: Tarrant County Public Health Assessment of Nichols Jr. High

Julie:
Following is an update on the Tarrant County Public Health briefing on Monday,
December 5th. Please share this information with your faculty and staff.
Officials from Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) briefed Nichols and district-level
administrators Monday on their study of environmental conditions and reported illnesses
at Nichols Jr. High and their findings based on the study.
TCPH staff reviewed actions performed to date by AISD, reports on indoor air quality
assessments and a mold assessment performed by two independent industrial
laboratories, reports from the Arlington Fire Department for calls they made to the
school, and a report from the Environmental Protection Agency summarizing their
review of AISDs environmental protocols and actions specific to problems reported by
Nichols staff. Additionally, TCPH officials reviewed reports of health-related symptoms
submitted by Nichols staff members, interviewed approximately sixty Nichols staff
members and analyzed symptoms reported by staff members.
Based on the procedures performed and current observations at this time, Vinny Taneja,
Public Health Director, summarized TCPHs current health and environmental findings
as follows:

No specific cause for the continuing symptoms has been identified at Nichols Jr.
High
The current observations do not warrant evacuating Nichols Jr. High
Based on health and environmental observations, TCPH staff hypothesize that
the symptoms may be related to sewer gas exposure; however, the findings are
inconclusive at this point
AISD is appropriately addressing all concerns
AISD should continue to monitor the building and symptoms of building
occupants and respond as conditions warrant

AISD is continuing with the next steps previously shared, including the following:

Monitoring the building and symptoms being reported

Air balancing the schools HVAC systems
Evaluating the indoor air quality of the building by Armstrong Forensics, an
independent industrial hygiene firm
Inspecting the HVAC system for optimal operation and efficiency

Purchasing a new copier for the office

Armstrong Forensics began their assessment of Nichols today. As part of their work,
Armstrong will evaluate information from reports, tests, and maintenance performed to
date and install data loggers in various places around the school to measure
environmental conditions over a period of several days.
Cindy Powell, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Arlington Independent School District
1203 W. Pioneer Parkway
Arlington, TX 76013
Office: (682) 867-7243