MONESSEN, Pa. — The Monessen City School District is delaying the start of the school year.
This announcement from Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte comes after the district received the results of air quality tests done after workers found “abnormalities” in the walls of the middle and high school.
In a letter sent to families on Saturday, Motte said the tests confirmed fungal growth on water-damaged building materials in two bathrooms, the office women’s room/adaject office area and the concession room.
Classes will now start on Sept. 8 as a precautionary measure so crews can “complete necessary building maintenance.”
Motte said the concession room “exhibited the most significant airborne amplification,” while the other affected areas had lower concentrations, but “showed water-damage-associated fungal profiles indicative of indoor sources.”
The cafeteria and two hallway/common areas immediately outside of the isolated areas contained “low airborne mold concentrations” that “did not show evidence of amplification at the time of sampling,” Motte said.
Motte says the isolation of the walls with “abnormalities” limited migration into common areas, but controlled remediation is needed —including correcting sources of water intrusion and removing mold-contaminated or water-damaged porous materials.
The district was also provided a number of recommendations, including:
- Maintain isolation to affected areas until remediation is done.
- Remove and discard visibly mold-contaminated or materially water-damaged porous materials. Clean non-porous or semi-porous surfaces.
- Inspect concealed spaces for fungal growth during demolition.
- Correct the leaking fixtures and plumbing.
Find the full list of recommendations in the PDF below.
Motte says additional information will be shared in the coming days.
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