MONESSEN, Pa. — The Monessen City School District is delaying the start of classes by two weeks after environmental testing confirmed mold inside its middle-high school building.
The district’s first day of school is now scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, instead of Aug. 25.
The delay applies districtwide, including the elementary center.
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Testing confirmed fungal growth on water-damaged materials in two restrooms, an office area and the concession room.
According to a report shared by the superintendent, the concession room had the most significant airborne mold levels.
The cafeteria and two nearby common areas had low mold levels at the time of testing.
The report recommends removing and replacing the affected materials.
For parent and former district employee Charity Parham, the delay is frustrating but not shocking.
“It’s not surprising. They knew about it last year. They had plenty of time to fix it,” Parham said.
Parham said concerns about conditions inside the district’s buildings had been discussed for months.
“There’s constant leaks. There was constant talk about it,” she said. “They had said at Christmas break there should’ve been testing done. There was multiple leaks down at the elementary center. The staff up here don’t deserve this.”
Parham also recalled unpleasant odors in some of the bathrooms.
“You could always tell with certain bathrooms, there was that very disgusting smell,” she said. “It didn’t matter how hard the janitors worked to clean it.”
Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said the delay is a precaution intended to give crews time to complete necessary work.
“This delay is being implemented as a precautionary measure to complete building maintenance and ensure a safe, fully prepared environment for our students and staff,” Motte wrote.
Parham’s daughter is entering second grade at the elementary center.
She said she wants the district to determine whether similar problems exist there and ensure all repairs are completed properly.
“You can’t just start going and putting up drywall and concrete and think everything is going to be fine,” Parham said.
Motte said the district will release more information in the coming days.
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