Rust in water fountains and mold are images that shouldn’t rush to mind when thinking of a child’s school.

But those were among the items discussed Monday as parents, teachers and school administrators met at Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School to discuss problems ranging from the poor condition of the building to the students’ low TAKS scores.

Temple Independent School District interim superintendent, Dr. Dana Marable, said she recently took a tour of the school.

“I did not see mold. I went in the library, I went in every bathroom, every restroom, but I made a list of things that I would like corrected,” Dr. Marable said.

She said she walked through the school last Thursday with the vice principal and did not notice any mold in the facility after going through each room on campus.

Parents and concerned community members, however, held the meeting to make sure students do not have to endure another school year under conditions they called unacceptable. They offered a list of concerns, including:

-mildew on ceiling tiles;

-loose or missing floor tiles in cafeteria, classrooms, restrooms and hallways;

-hazardous gym floor and old equipment, and many other items.

“I did not see rust and I apologize for that and until I got the list that was passed out I did not know that there were these concerns and I came as quickly as I could,” Dr. Marable said.

Principal Rhonda Etheridge said that since January 2007 almost 100 work orders have been placed concerning issues in the school and some of the problems have been resolved.

On Friday and Monday, maintenance workers addressed some of the complaints. Along with the maintenance issues, parents expressed concerns about low scores on the TAKS test. While Dr. Marable pointed out that the math test scores were high Miss Etheridge said that the reading scores were low, “and there needs to be a change.” Parents said they believe the issues of rusty water and mold need to be addressed, along with the student/teacher ratio, which is 13 to 1. Becky Ramirez, chairwoman for the Hispanic Leadership Council, said the meeting was an attempt to empower parents and community members to get involved.

“It was never meant as an attempt to attack the school district,” Ms. Ramirez said.

The purpose of the meeting was to find a way to improve the school, she said, and the group seems more than willing to find a way to accomplish its goals. Dr. Marable said the administration is also willing to hear the concerns and address the issues.

“I do care about these children. That’s why I am here early in the morning to help them get out of their cars, open car doors for them and greet them. That’s why I walk into classrooms and sit in classrooms and watch your teachers teach,” Dr. Marable said.