STONE HARBOR — Mold was discovered Aug. 31 on cold water pipes behind built-in classroom bookcases at Stone Harbor Elementary School causing a one-day opening delay.
Students here were scheduled to return Sept. 9 but instead returned Sept. 10.
Moisture from exterior walls leaked inside and little black dots of mold appeared on pipes on interior walls of four classrooms and the computer lab.
Superintendent David Rauzenhaun told the Herald there was “very little” mold and the school hired a contractors Pars Environmental and AllRisk, which had crews of ten with four truckloads of equipment remediate the mold, clean items and test air quality over Labor Day weekend. He said the companies specialize in mold remediation.
Test results were satisfactory and teachers returned to the building to prepare their classrooms Sept. 8, Rauenzahn said. A combined teacher in-service day was held at Avalon Elementary School.
Teachers already had classrooms setup and had to reset them after remediation.
“Teachers did a fantastic job with help from all staff members,” Rauenzahn said.
A full report was provided at the Board of Education meeting Sept. 9, during which Rauenzahn showed insurance photos of damaged items, books, cassette tapes and furry slippers, which may be replaced by the school’s insurance company.
AllRisk took items back to its facility for cleaning or disposal. Staff members were not allowed to clean items at home due to heath risk, he said.
If insurance company will not cover replacements, Rauenzahn said the school would.
Pars Environmental recommended replacing old insulation with black foam insulation and improving air-circulation by leaving classroom doors open, Rauenzahn said.
He said he was very satisfied with the response time of both environmental companies.
Parents were alerted via the borough’s Global Connect telephone system.
Rauenzahn said the school would monitor for mold every six months.
He said rainy summer weather with high humidity contributed to the mold issue.
The board will decide when the day will be made up, likely at the end of the school year, with parent input at a subsequent meeting, Rauenzahn said.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.
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