Mysterious rash shuts down elementary school

  SYLVANIA, Ohio - School officials canceled classes for the rest of the week yesterday at an elementary school where dozens of students have developed mysterious rashes in recent weeks.

     While the outbreak has alarmed parents in this Toledo suburb, the rashes are relatively harmless and clear up several hours after they develop, health officials say.

     About 60 cases have been reported at Central Elementary School. Classes were expected to resume next week at another location, school district spokeswoman Nancy Crandell said. The students were staying at home on calamity days.

     A private environmental firm hired by the district and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department haven't been able to find a source for the rashes. They have investigated several sources including cleaning supplies, poison ivy and Asian beetles.

     But investigators have found several molds and potential irritants at the school, prompting its closure, said Cynthia Durdel, assistant superintendent at Sylvania schools.

     "Testing must continue, including invasive testing that requires the scientists to go into crawl spaces, into ceilings, floors and walls to get a better handle on what organisms might be present," Durdel said.

     Some air samplings revealed higher levels of fungus in a teacher's lounge in the basement, Crandell said.

     "To do any further testing we felt we needed to close the school," she said.