District 5 Checks Schools for Excessive Moisture

Submitted by Lexington-Richland District Five.

An extraordinary amount of rain and humidity this summer has resulted in excessive moisture and even mold in some schools across the state.

Lexington-Richland School District Five will conduct aggressive assessment at all of its schools as persistent rainfall raises widespread concerns over the potential for mold. 

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our students and staff,” said Mark Bounds, Chief Information Officer for District Five. “The amount of rain and moisture this spring and summer has created the perfect environment for mold and other moisture-related issues. And we are taking immediate and aggressive action to ensure that all our schools are safe.” 

During routine maintenance inspections this summer, small amounts of mold were identified in several classrooms at two of the district’s schools and in some school buses that were returned to the district from state maintenance shops. A professional abatement team worked to clean the mold before the start of school, and all but two rooms have been cleared.

Those rooms, where a very small amount of mold was found, have been retested and results will be available in the next 24 hours.  Those rooms remain closed to students and staff. 

Once the first issues were identified, additional reviews were conducted by school maintenance teams. Those inspections coupled with the return of teachers to their classrooms revealed excessive moisture in four additional schools.  

While the presence of mold has not been confirmed, students and staff have not been allowed in those spaces.

Out of caution, today the District Superintendent directed an assessment of all 
district schools by professional air quality specialists.  Each school will be thoroughly assessed. 

Should any problems be found, rapid and decisive actions will be taken to ensure the air is clean.

“We did not create this problem, but we are taking every measure to address it as it occurs,” Bounds said. “These assessments are being conducted as a proactive precaution. It is our duty to protect our students and staff. We will take whatever actions are necessary to make sure our schools are safe places.”