Monessen delays start of classes until Sept. 8

“Abnormalities” found at the middle/high school turned out to be mold.

The start of the new school year in the Monessen City School District has been delayed until Sept. 8, the district announced Saturday.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte released the test results Saturday after district officials looked over the findings and announced that the date has been pushed back from the original Aug. 25 start.

“This delay is being implemented as a precautionary measure to complete necessary building maintenance and ensure a safe, fully prepared environment for our students and staff,” Motte wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare for the school year.”

“Abnormalities” in the walls of the middle/high school were discovered recently through routine maintenance, which prompted the testing, and the fungal growth found was mold.

The fungal growth was discovered on water-damaged areas, including the men’s and women’s restrooms near room H-108, the office women’s room with the adjacent office area and the concession room, which had the most airborne amplification that will require remediation.

The cafeteria and two sampled hallway/common areas immediately outside the isolated area had low airborne mold concentrations. They did not show any signs of amplification at the time of sampling, but that does not mean the area won’t need remediation as well.

The mold cannot be eliminated by surface cleaning alone, and the affected areas need to be removed safely and completely. Those areas will have restricted access and sealed isolation, the district will need to get a qualified mold-remediation contractor and a post-removal sample will need to be taken of the affected areas.

Last Monday, Motte called the abnormality a “localized environmental concern” and said they could not provide more information until testing was complete.

On Thursday, Motte said taking time for the appropriate parties to review the results helps ensure that any information shared with the public is accurate, complete and presented in the proper context.

“We appreciate the community’s patience as we work through the process of reviewing the report and determining appropriate next steps,” he said. “Given the nature of the issues addressed in the report, it is important that all relevant parties have an opportunity to evaluate the findings, understand any recommendations and assess potential operational, legal and risk management considerations.”

School board President Mark Panicucci said it’s more than likely due to a piping issue in the building.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Motte said the insurance company would come to the school to look everything over. The district is hoping that insurance will cover any damages.

He added that state funding is available for school districts of Monessen’s size that have similar issues.

Administrators contacted a professional environmental restoration and assessment company July 29 to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the building, which was done Aug. 3. The air quality testing was conducted from Aug. 8 through Tuesday, and the school was closed during that time.

The district’s director of facilities, Edward Szmed, observed an abnormality in a wall near the gymnasium concession stand on July 28, according to the release.

Additional information will be shared in the coming days on the district’s website and parent communication channels, Motte added.