Maypearl ISD trustees called a special meeting Wednesday night to hear parents' concerns about the district's primary school reopening. The city's fire chief closed Maypearl Primary School last week because of elevated levels of carbon dioxide.
In a letter to parents, Maypearl ISD said it first commissioned an air quality test in November "following an increase in work orders for the historic campus."
"The study found CO2 levels in the main building were over 1,000 ppm higher than the exterior sample. Additionally, a slightly elevated presence of Ascospores was detected in Room 7 of the main building," the letter read.
The district said it made repairs which were reviewed by an "outside HVAC source."
At the meeting, parents questioned why they received a letter Wednesday when the district has known about the issue since November.
"You, the school board and administration, lack directness, integrity and are no longer trustworthy," one woman said. "You disgust me."
One father said his son often comes home "drowsy, angry, tired, not in a great mood."
Superintendent Richie Bowling said crews are repairing ducts and vents. He said tests conducted this week showed CO2 levels have dropped below 1,000 parts per million.
"We are starting to see CO2 levels are not elevating as rapidly," he said during the meeting.
But Bowling did not confirm whether the fire department had conducted its own tests or whether the chief had actually given the district approval to reopen the school.
"How long will it take for you to realize every last bit of trust between this administration and the community you were hired to serve is gone?" one father asked.
Maypearl ISD said repairs to ductwork should be finished by the end of next week.
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