As students return, mold remediation continues inside part of Crafton Elementary School

CRAFTON, Pa. — A Crafton Elementary School father decided to keep his daughter home on Monday, as Carlynton students returned to the classroom for the 2026-2027 school year.

Cody Sheets’ daughter, Olivia, was set to start 2nd grade, but Sheets told Channel 11 he became concerned last week when Carlynton said elevated concentrations of mold spores were found in Rooms 101-104 of Crafton Elementary.

“What does the word ‘elevated’ mean, when you talk about mold spores and air quality and things like that? What exactly does that mean? Are we 10 times what the amount is outside? Are we one-thousand times?” Sheets said.

In a statement released Monday, Carlynton assistant superintendent Dr. Jeff Taylor said the district immediately began taking corrective action when a humidity-related concern was identified at the school on August 17. As remediation continues, several rounds of mold testing have been conducted in multiple areas of the building, with the most recent testing getting underway on Monday. As of Monday afternoon, district officials said they have not received the results.

Sheets told Channel 11 he asked the district to publish the data findings last week when testing started but said they have not done so.

“I’m just not satisfied with the information we’ve been given,” Sheets said. “You’re assuming people who read it just don’t understand it. That’s not a justification to not actually have the information be put out there.”

In its statement, Carlynton said it believes the information is most useful when laboratory findings are communicated together with the interpretation of the qualified environmental professionals evaluating the building.

This isn’t the only district that has found mold in schools recently. Both Monessen City and Laurel Highlands have modified or delayed the start of school after mold was discovered in at least one of their school buildings.

“The Monessen City School District is currently awaiting official environmental test results for the impacted areas at the elementary center. As soon as those findings are received and thoroughly evaluated, the district will immediately publish a full summary to the public. Having complete, data-backed results in hand will allow administration to make swift, definitive decisions regarding next steps while ensuring student and staff safety remains our absolute highest priority,” said Dr. Robert Motte, superintendent of schools.

“The amount of restoration, sanitization, and eradication of unsuitable ceiling tile and pipe insulation requires that the school be closed until the restoration process is complete. It is a very fluid situation, and we are doing everything we can to open the building in the safest and most rapid manner possible. We want to ensure that the atmosphere is safe for all occupants,” said Dr. Jesse Wallace III, superintendent of schools for Laurel Highlands School District.

Sheets told Channel 11 he pushed for Carlynton to delay its first day of school for Crafton students until the situation was resolved. But the district said its environmental consultant determined the rest of the building is safe.

“I’m a dad who just wants to make sure that his daughter is safe to go to her second grade classroom and stay in that building all day long,” Sheets said.

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