MADISONVILLE-Two concerned parents addressed the Monroe County Board of Education on Thursday night.

Parent Keith Morgan, whose 11-year-old daughter attends Madisonville Middle School, said his daughter has had allergy and asthma problems since she began school there this year. He noted she didn't have problems at her previous schools in the county.

"She had no health problems," said Morgan. "Within three days after school started, she came down with this."

Morgan said his daughter missed two straight weeks of school and her grade average has dropped. After allergy testing and speaking to an environmentalist, he believes the school has a mold problem or bad air quality.

Morgan asked the board to have the school inspected for air quality and mold. Maintenance Supervisor Charles Underwood said the estimated cost for that would be $3,000.

MMS Principal Kristy Windsor said the school has not had complaints up to this point and there has not been a problem with the attendance rate.

School Health Supervisor Sonia Hardin said there has been a high number of upper respiratory infections this year in all schools.

"I don't have the numbers with me, but I don't recognize a greater number of kids carrying inhalers there than I do at our other schools," she said.

Hardin noted that the school system did purchase air purifiers to place in each classroom for this particular student.

School Board member Steve Rogers wanted the total information on the county schools to compare.

"We would like to see that there is a just cause to spend $3,000," said Chairman Bob Lovingood.

Lovingood, however, told Morgan they wanted to take care of his child.

"Your child is important to us. All our students are important to us," said Lovingood. "We need to get the information we need to make a good decision."

See full story in the Sunday, Oct. 21, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.