How Melrose-Mindoro School District Restored Health and Learning by Eliminating Dirty Electricity
Industry: Education
Location: Melrose-Mindoro School District, Wisconsin
Challenge: Rampant, unexplained illness among staff and students, including asthma, migraines, chronic fatigue, and a teacher diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Solution: Installation of STETZERiZER® Filters to eliminate high-frequency voltage transients (dirty electricity).
Results: Dramatic reduction in asthma symptoms, elimination of migraines, restored energy levels, and removal of the school’s “sick building” status.
The Challenge:
A “Sick Building” and Failing Health
In the late summer of 2002, the Melrose-Mindoro School District faced a severe health crisis. At the Mindoro Elementary School, staff members were experiencing a cluster of debilitating symptoms. Teachers complained of chronic fatigue, facial flushing, numbness, sensitivity to light and sound, tingling, and loss of taste and smell. The situation escalated when a teacher and principal, Angela Olstad, who had suffered from chronic illness for three years, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in April 2002.
The students were also severely affected. Thirty-seven students had developed asthma and required daily nebulizer treatments while at school . The rampant illness persisted even after the district treated the school twice for mold, leaving the source of the sickness a mystery. The Wisconsin Department of Health eventually classified the school as a “sick building,” and the teachers’ union initiated a lawsuit.
“I was exhausted. I absolutely had no life for three-and-a-half years,” Olstad recalled. “I was afraid to go back”.
The Discovery:
Uncovering the Invisible Pollutant
Desperate for a solution, District Administrator Ron Perry invited a power quality expert to investigate the school’s electrical environment in October 2002 . The investigation revealed that the school’s neutral wires were undersized, causing electricity to flow back into the buildings to be grounded.
Using a Fluke meter, the expert measured radio frequency (RF) waves and found considerable amounts of electromagnetic wave energy in every room, particularly in the computer lab . This phenomenon, known as “dirty electricity” or high-frequency voltage transients, is generated by modern electronic equipment like computers, fluorescent lights, and photocopy machines—equipment prevalent in modern schools.
“So many buildings were constructed when electricity wasn’t such a vital component in education,” Perry explained. “But since that time, computers, televisions, VCRs and numerous other electronics in schools has resulted in increased electricity usage”.
The Solution:
Restoring Harmonic Balance
To combat the dirty electricity, the contractor installed STETZERiZER® (Graham-Stetzer) electrical filters in every room of the Mindoro school. The filters were also installed at the Mel-Min High School and the elementary school in Melrose as a preventative measure .
The filters work by removing high-frequency radiation from the wiring, smoothing out the RF waves instantly and placing the electromagnetic fields back into a harmonic balance . The installation was done discreetly; staff knew an electrical contractor was working in the building but were unaware of the specific work being done.
The Results:
Immediate and Lasting Health Improvements
The impact of the STETZERiZER® filters was profound and almost immediate. Within days, staff members began to notice marked improvements in their health. “It takes out the ‘trash’ in the wires,” Perry said. “Within a few days people said they were feeling better. One person even said she could smell again”.
District Nurse Char Sbraggia, R.N., documented the extraordinary changes in a letter detailing the health improvements across the district:
| Health Metric | Before Filter Installation | After Filter Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Student Asthma | 37 students required nebulizer treatments 1-2 times daily | 0 nebulizer treatments required; only 3 students used inhalers for exercise-induced asthma |
| Staff Fatigue | Widespread chronic fatigue | Teachers reported feeling less fatigued and having more energy |
| Allergies | Staff doctored regularly and took medication | Staff no longer needed medication or doctor visits for allergies |
| Migraines | Students diagnosed with severe migraines | Headaches were completely reduced or eliminated |
| Sensory Loss | Loss of smell | Sense of smell returned after being lost for three years |
“I feel that our faculty and students have had improved health overall since the filters have been installed,” Sbraggia stated.
Two years later, the results held strong. Absenteeism due to illness remained reduced, students continued to not need inhalers, and energy levels remained high. In a follow-up letter in January 2005, Sbraggia confirmed, “We are a much healthier school since the filters have been installed”.
The Wisconsin Department of Health removed the “sick building” classification from the school, and the teachers’ union dropped their lawsuit.
Conclusion: A Model for Healthy Schools
The Melrose-Mindoro School District’s experience serves as a powerful testament to the hidden dangers of dirty electricity in educational environments. By identifying and mitigating this invisible pollutant with STETZERiZER® filters, the district not only resolved a severe health crisis but also created a safer, more productive learning environment for its students and staff.
“We’ve done a lot of good. Unexpectedly,” Perry concluded. “The good news is that we’ve cleaned up all our schools in the district. Probably, every school in Wisconsin should be checked”.
References
[1] Dirty Electricity Causes Illness in Mindoro School Staff