Schools

Mold Gone at Goodnoe, School to Open on Schedule, Officials Say

Mold was found on carpets in 10 classrooms and five modulars in early July, district officials said.

Mold found in classrooms at Goodnoe Elementary School has been thoroughly remediated and the building will open on time for students, Council Rock officials said.

The school has passed all air quality tests since the mold remediation was completed, Superintendent Mark Klein said in an email.

The school is currently undergoing a major renovation project.

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“The building’s ventilation system was shut down in late June to accommodate the renovation and in early July mold growth was found on carpets in 10 classrooms and five modulars,” Klein said.

District officials immediately contacted environmental consultants to conduct sampling and air quality tests in the school, Klein said. “The results of those tests showed elevated mold counts in some of the carpeted rooms and in modular classrooms,” according to Klein.   

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Two of those modulars were already scheduled for demolition this summer. The remaining six were scheduled for demolition in June 2015. “Rather than spend money remediating these spaces, the modulars are currently being removed from the site,” Klein said. 

As for the loss of space from the modular classrooms that are being demolished, those spaces will be accommodated inside the main building, officials said. “While crowded, we can accommodate these programs through a combination of reorganization of interior space and shared use until the new classroom addition is completed in February,” said Klein.

Carpet in 20 classrooms was also removed. 

“Rather than attempt to clean and disinfect the aging carpets in the classrooms, we felt it was a safer and smarter choice to remove the carpeting,” said Klein. The classrooms were scrubbed thoroughly, Klein noted, adding the contents in the room including furniture, walls and floors were cleaned to remove residual mold spores.

“As rooms were cleaned, new air quality testing was conducted in each room. We wanted to ensure we were doing everything possible to make the school safe and healthy,” he said.

The only carpet that remains in the building is in the office, the computer room, the library and the music room, Klein said.  “All of those spaces continue to have acceptable air quality readings and no evidence of mold growth.  These carpets will be removed and replaced with tile in later phases of the renovation project,” he said.

Intermittent testing will continue through the year to ensure air quality remains safe for staff and students, Klein said. 

Copies of the air quality reports are available in the school office.

All other aspects of the renovation project remain on schedule, officials said. 


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