Mold Found In 7 Classrooms At Brick School

BRICK, NJ — Mold has been discovered in seven classrooms at Emma Havens Young Elementary School, the school district said in a letter that went out to parents Wednesday.

The classrooms all are in one section of the building and have "surface mold growth," according to the letter signed by Superintendent Gerald Dalton and Emma Havens Young Principal which is posted on the district's website.

"The most probable cause was the high humidity we experienced during the last weeks of August," the letter said, referring to recent weather. "During our investigation, it was also discovered that the dehumidification system in that area of the building was not performing as designed."

The amount of mold was very small, a district source told Patch, with a few small spots on student desks. It was not widespread mold covering vast surfaces, the source said.

The letter said all of the affected surfaces have been cleaned and the dehumidifiers replaced, and the ventilation equipment inspected "to insure that all components are functioning appropriately."

"Additionally, we have contracted with Environmental Safety Management Corporation to provide services for testing of air and surfaces and monitoring for temperature and humidity to assure that all locations are safe prior to occupancy by students," the letter said.

The district is continuing to monitor the rooms that were affected while it awaits results of the testing, the letter said,

The district dealt with widespread mold issues at Drum Point Elementary School and at the building that now houses its administrative function in 2013 that cost more than $400,000 to remediate. Students were moved out of the administration building, which at the time was called the Educational Enrichment Center, and there was talk of closing Drum Point temporarily because of the extent of the problems, which included mold in student lockers and on books as well as other surfaces, according to a 94.3 The Point report published at the time.

After two years of follow-up testing, Drum Point was given an all clear in June 2015.

The mold found at Emma Havens was nothing close to the extent found in 2013 at Drum Point, the source said.

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