Mold In Middle School Will Require $1.6M Emergency Mitigation

PORT CHESTER, NY — The middle school is shuttered due to the discovery of mold and air contamination and school officials say there is no guarantee classrooms will be ready in time for the return of students.

The Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District Board learned during a special meeting that getting Port Chester Middle School ready for the new school year will cost an extra $1.6 million to mitigate mold and air quality issues in a number of classrooms. Emergency repair work is expected to be complete by the time classes start on September 2.

In a letter to families, Superintendent Aurelia Henriquez told families that on July 27, an unidentified substance was found on the wall in two classrooms on the first floor of the school while summer school was in session. The classrooms were closed and students and staff were relocated before the start of the day.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” all first-floor classes were moved to the second and third floors of the school and air quality testing was conducted in all classrooms on the first floor. The results showed that the air quality was not acceptable in 3 of the 19 rooms that were tested.

The company that tested the classrooms recommended that students only be allowed on the second and third floors until the mold issues were fully addressed. The district decided to cancel all classes at the middle school to proactively conduct testing in all rooms. Summer classes were relocated to Park Avenue Elementary School as of July 30.

“We are thankful that this issue was uncovered now, before the reopening of schools,” Henriquez wrote in the letter dated August 3. “Our goal is to complete this necessary mitigation before the first day of school, however, we recognize unforeseen issues can arise. It is still our goal, however, to welcome all children back to school on time and to welcome them to the safest possible learning environment.”

A licensed contractor has been brought in to remediate elevated mold spore counts in classrooms 121, 122, and 123 at the school. Structural moisture mitigation will also be conducted in classrooms, common areas and offices that exhibit any signs of excess moisture. Air scrubbers and dehumidifiers will run as needed to capture any possible mold spore releases and to dry out any excess moisture. All mold will be removed and the area cleaned and encapsulated. All walls and ceilings will be vacuumed and cleaned with an antimicrobial solution; and a spray foam will be applied at the bottom gap of each wall where it meets the floor so that no water can penetrate at the floor gap.

After cleaning and remediation are complete, an environmental consultant will test the entire building for elevated mold spores to ensure the building is safe for students and teachers to return, according to school officials.