Waterford Elementary reopening Monday, mold testing results released
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WATERFORD - Students will return to Waterford Elementary School Monday after being taught at alternate sites since the building was closed since Aug. 28 due to mold concerns.
Wolf Creek Local Schools Superintendant Suellen Coleman said in a post on the district's Facebook page Thursday that the school would reopen for all students on Monday. She also shared the results of mold testing completed by Liberty Home Inspection Services, along with remediation plans and prevention strategies the school will implement.
Coleman, who could not be reached for comment Friday, said that out of 55 samples taken - 50 air samples and five with lift tape - 10 were identified as elevated.
Elevated samples "contained spores in the Pen/Asp group (Penicillium, Asperillus, Trichoderna, and Paecilomyces)" and they are grouped together because they cannot be individually distinguished through direct microscopic examination, Coleman said in the post.
"Spores in the Pen/Asp group are non-toxic and are among the most common fungi found in indoor environments, particularly basements," she said.
Of the 10 elevated samples, five had levels over 1,000 spores per cubic meter and the others' levels were over 500 spores per cubic meter.
Spaces with over 1,000 spores per cubic meter:
* Room 018 - girls locker room (2,130)
* Room 012 - seventh grade classroom (4,430)
* Room 008 - office (4,430)
* Room 006 - office (3,250)
* Room 116 - fifth grade classroom (1,390)
Spaces with over 500 spores per cubic meter:
* Room 017 - visitor boys locker room (640)
* Room 016 - visitor girls locker room (533)
* Room 009 - trainer's office (853)
* Room 002 - eighth-grade classroom (533)
* Room 111 - kindergarten classroom (640)
Coleman said all classes assigned to rooms with spore counts over 1,000 will meet in alternative spaces within the elementary school until follow-up test results are returned after Sept 5.
An independent cleaning company has sanitized every space in the building regardless of the test results, using "Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant, a non-toxic cleaner killing 99.9% of bateria, viruses, and molds," the post said. Spaces were misted, closed off for the required duration, and thoroughly wiped down, it said.
The following remediation measures were also outlined in the post:
* Commercial air scrubbers are actively filtering the air in all spaces with spore counts over 500.
* All air filters in the classrooms with self-contained HVAC units were changed or cleaned. Units were cleaned and serviced by R.W. Millers and reprogrammed to run continuously, even when spaces are unoccupied.
* Dehumidifiers have been deployed in high-moisture areas, including the junior high basement classrooms and hallways.
* Retesting of all elevated spaces will take place on or around Sept 5. Results will be shared publicly as soon as they are available.
Coleman also said that as a prevention strategy, in-duct air purifiers will be installed in all classroom HVAC units, an accelerated filler replacement schedule will be implemented, and staff will perform routine humidity monitoring to keep classroom environments well-ventilated and dry during rainy seasons and summer months.
The full lab report can be found on the Wolf Creek Local School District's website under "documents," the post said.
Three teachers reported signs of mold in their classrooms Aug. 17-18, and the school was closed Aug. 21 after consultation with the Washington County Health Department and companies that deal with mold.
While testing was conducted and classrooms cleaned, students were initially sent to alternate locations including local churches and Waterford High School. After parents raised concerns, students were sent to neighboring schools, including in the Fort Frye Local School District.