Mold concerns plague chatsworth park elementary, prompting evacuation

Chatsworth Park Elementary parents are mounting pressure on district leaders after persistent health issues among students have led to the partial evacuation of the school due to a suspected mold problem.

Parents cite illnesses, lack of communication following building closure

The situation escalated following heavy rains in December, after which teachers reported an odor in classrooms. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) initially addressed a leak, but parents argue that superficial repairs are insufficient.

“You can’t just come in and replace some tiles, do some painting, do some minimal cleaning and then say it’s abated,” said Casandra Walker, president of the school’s Parent Teacher Association. Her second-grade son, Garrison Mathews, has reportedly experienced a string of concerning symptoms since returning to the classroom, including frequent nosebleeds, headaches, and skin irritation.

Other parents echoed Walker’s concerns. “My daughter came home with red cheeks, red eyes,” reported Amandeep Singh. “She’s complaining, ‘I have a headache, fatigue.’” Singh stated he’s taken his daughter to the emergency room multiple times, where doctors attributed her symptoms to severe mold allergies.

The LAUSD has moved all students out of two of the seven classrooms as a precaution, relocating them to the auditorium, library, and teacher’s lounge. The disruption to learning is palpable. “It’s kind of hard to focus,” Mathews said. “We don’t really have a lot of space to learn.”

While LAUSD officials state they are awaiting test results, parents express frustration with the district’s response.