Mold removal ongoing at Monessen middle/high school

A decision on when staff and students can return to the middle/high school could come this week.

Monessen City School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte released an update Tuesday on the progress of removing mold from the district’s middle/high school.

After meeting Friday with a mold remediation specialist, the removal of affected materials will continue throughout this week. By the end of this week, Motte said the district will see what their game plan is going forward.

“Once post-remediation air quality testing confirms the building is completely clear and safe, we plan to bring students back into the facility while any remaining structural renovations are completed,” he stated in a press release. “This approach ensures safety, minimizes educational disruption for our students and provides potential cost savings for the district.”

Earlier this month, Monessen’s school board decided unanimously that students in the middle/high school will conduct classes remotely until a portion of the school can be opened again safely for students and staff.

Motte said that as soon as the material is removed, the remediation company, Alliance Properties Group, LLC, which was approved by the school board for $330,446, will conduct air quality testing in the whole building.

On Tuesday, remediation crews began removing contaminated materials from the concession stand and police office, where the issue originated.

The concession area on the gym side of the building has been fully contained to prevent any cross contamination.

According to the release, air scrubbers have been running continuously for more than a week to clean and purify the air. Venting is currently underway in the first floor bathrooms to clear remaining spores.

The upstairs bathrooms show significantly less contamination, according to the release, and if follow-up testing shows low spore counts in these spaces, the district will only need to replace leaking plumbing rather than perform extensive Motte told the Mon Valley Independent Tuesday that remediation is progressing nicely, and he hopes the school will be back to in-person instruction soon.

“The health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and community remain our highest priorities, and we are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way,” Motte said in the release. “Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and support as we work diligently to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.”