BIDDEFORD — Students entering Biddeford High School’s English wing on Monday were greeted by a pair of closed-up rooms that were duct-taped shut and adorned with signs warning, “Do Not Enter.”

Parental complaints fingering the high school’s air quality as the culprit of their children’s’ medical struggles prompted the cleaning and testing of rooms 203 and 215, which normally house classes taught by Robert Petrillo and Dawn Pendergrass, respectively.

Marina Gagne, a junior at BHS, has experienced the worst of the reactions believed to be caused by a mold allergy. According to Gagne, she was in good health all of her life, apart from a bout of sickness suspected to have been brought on by mold-related issues.

When she entered BHS as a freshman, she was frequently ill, she said, but only had minimal symptoms paired with terrible nausea. The symptomss worsened during her sophomore year, however.

One day into her second semester as a sophomore, Gagne dropped at cheerleading practice after school, unable to breathe. She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with having had an allergic reaction, without the allergen being pinpointed.

Her mother, Laurie Hale, said she called the office of Superintendent Sarah-Jane Poli after this first reaction, asking that the school’s air quality and the possibility of mold be investigated. According to Hale, she was assured that testing would be done and she would be kept apprised.

Gagne returned to class after a reaction-free February break, but, minutes into her class in room 203, a rash broke out on her hands, arms and neck. She was sent to the nurse, where her lower body turned purplish, and she quickly became unable to breathe, she said. Gagne was immediately treated with an EpiPen and rushed out of the school by ambulance.

Hale said that no update on the status of the school was given, and Gagne was put on over-the-counter allergy medication over summer break. Gagne suffered from no reactions over the break, but a few weeks into the current school year, she underwent the same reaction after attending a class in room 205. Gagne now estimates that this process has been repeated approximately eight times since her first reaction. Beyond the mental and physical toll of the reactions, at 4 feet 10 inches and 92 pounds, Gagne fears the repeated use of the life-saving EpiPen is pushing her heart to its limits, she said.

“I’m tiny. The effect of an adult dose of an EpiPen is scary,” said Gagne. “It’s really a last resort.”

According to Gagne, she isn’t the only one complaining about sickness they believe to be related to mold or the school’s air quality. Gagne said a number of students and staff members have voiced concern over migraines and a variety of minor symptoms suffered within the school.

“The whole school itself is sick,” said Gagne. “It’s already come to the point where parents are going to do something about it. More and more kids are getting sick.”

Kelsie Bernier, a sophomore at BHS, is an honors student who once won an award for having the highest marks in her English classes at Biddeford Middle School. Today, she struggles to get by in her English class in room 205, accrediting the onset of migraines and reactions similar to those of Gagne, she said.

“I’m afraid to go to school,” said Bernier. “And I’m a student who cares about her grades.”

According to her mother, Roberta Bernier, these health concerns have drained her daughter, who lacks energy, and beyond her academic struggles, has decided to give up playing basketball to avoid the mold content she believes to exist in the girl’s locker rooms.

“These kids shouldn’t have to go to school scared that they’ll get sick,” said Roberta. “We’re talking about kids’ lives here and they’re getting sick for no reason.”

After Kelsie’s reaction in late October required hospitalization, the two classrooms were tested and were confirmed to have levels of mold slightly above outside air levels, according to a study commissioned by the school department.

Upon receiving these results, the pair of mothers and daughters attended the Nov. 23 school committee meeting demanding steps be taken to address the quality of air in the high school, and Hale made the demand that Superintendent Poli resign from her position.

“I want Sarah Poli suspended,” said Hale. “I told them that night that I wanted her resignation. No one on the school committee knew about (the air quality concerns).”

Poli explained that random testing is done yearly, and school-wide testing had revealed no negative results. She acknowledged that portions of the school building are undergoing repair, expressing her thanks to the citizens who approved the school’s ongoing renovation.

According to Poli, September air testing showed no proof of raised levels of mold or dust in the two rooms in question, and the October testing indicated, “minimal airborne spore levels,” some of which was attributed to water damage.

“We take air quality issues very seriously,” said Poli. “I think we’re doing the job we need to be doing.”

Poli did not recall speaking with Hale last year and said no tests specific to these rooms were done in the past school year. However, Poli said she takes any parent concern seriously and all calls are notated by herself and her secretary.

“Perhaps the reports were delayed,” Poli said.

According to Poli, the closed-off rooms were tested after school on Nov. 29 and whatever the results, necessary steps will be taken to address whatever problems may exist.

A special board workshop will be held tonight to discuss the air quality of the school and test result with a board of experts at 6:30 p.m. in the Biddeford City Hall Council Chambers.

— Nathan Proctor can be contacted at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com.