Crews Seal Off Mold Area at Norris Rec Center

Work continued on Friday to seal off the area affected by mold at the and begin removal of the tainted materials on Saturday, a school district official said.

The mold was discovered Wednesday evening at the , 1050 Dunham Road, which has been closed since July 30 for routine maintenance conducted every summer, according to Community Unit School District 303.

Painters working in a racquetball court noticed a soft spot on an exterior wall. An inspection found that mold was to blame, although District 303 officials have not said yet whether the mold is isolated or more pervasive.

A remediation crew began work Thursday evening to open the racquetball court wall.

Superintendent Dr. Donald Schlomann said Thursday night an environmental contractor is trying to determine the scope of the problem even as the cleanup work begins.

In the meantime, the facility's scheduled Aug. 13 reopening remains in doubt until the scope of the work needed is known.

The was built in 1974. But the district said an addition made in 1980 included the exterior wall of the pertinent racquetball court.

is connected by a breezeway to St. Charles East High School, which was shut down for more than a year for cleanup and renovations after mold was discovered there.

Keep an eye on what's happening on St. Charles Patch by "liking" our Facebook page and following us on Twitter at @StCharlsILPatch.