Friendswood ISD has delayed the start of the school year at Westwood Elementary after elevated mold levels were found in parts of the building, according to an Aug. 5 news release from the district.
District officials have not announced a new start date, but said they will provide another update Aug. 7, according to the release.
What you need to know
The district reported increased moisture and visible surface mold in parts of the building. In July, air and surface testing conducted by an environmental consultant found elevated mold levels but did not identify black mold.
A remediation contractor also determined the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was unable to adequately control moisture during June and July, allowing moisture to saturate sections of the roof deck and spread into parts of the building, according to the release.
Zooming in
FISD’s board of trustees met Aug. 5 and approved emergency remediation measures, authorizing Superintendent Thad Roher to oversee agreements and expenses to restore the campus to safe occupancy, district documents show.
The district is replacing the affected HVAC units, scheduling roof repairs and has hired an environmental restoration contractor to complete cleaning, mold remediation, additional testing and repairs before the campus reopens.
The cost for these measures is currently unknown.
Quote of note
“We take responsibility for correcting both the immediate issues and the underlying causes, and we are committed to implementing stronger monitoring, maintenance and operational procedures to help prevent this from happening again," the release states.
Looking ahead
The first day of school, originally scheduled for Aug. 18, and Kinder Camp have been postponed until further notice.
The district will continue to provide updates on the reopening timeline, the release states.
