Important Information Regarding Dakota Elementary School
After speaking with representatives from All American Cleaning and Restoration, the mold issue is contained to the elementary gym and is associated with the air handling unit located within that space. Importantly, the gym operates on a closed air system, meaning the air from that area is not circulated throughout the rest of the building and is ventilated directly to the outside.
Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the continued safety and quality of our learning environment, we are conducting air quality sampling throughout the elementary school. These samples will provide us with additional information and confirm that other areas of the building have not been impacted.
The health and safety of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We will continue working closely with All American Cleaning and Restoration throughout the remediation process and will provide families with additional updates and information as it becomes available.
At the end of the school day on Monday, it came to our attention that there appeared to be mold growth on the bleachers in the elementary gym. Upon discovering the concern, we immediately contacted several professional restoration companies. All American Cleaning and Restoration (AACR) was able to have professionals on site within the hour to assess the situation. AACR confirmed that the growth observed on the bleachers was mold. As a precaution, we immediately closed the elementary gym and restricted access to the area. AACR returned this morning to begin the mold mitigation process.
After a thorough inspection, it was determined that the mold growth resulted from condensation associated with the gym's air handling unit. Over the weekend, the gym's air handling unit was shut off by contractors. The unit was restarted on Monday morning. We reached out to HELM for an HVAC professional inspection to ensure that our air handler was functioning properly, which was confirmed. The gymnasium air handling unit operates as a closed system that vents directly to the outside and does not circulate air into other areas of the building.
In addition to beginning the mitigation process, the District has taken the following steps:
- Notified the Regional Office of Education.
- Notified the Stephenson County Health Department.
- Ordered air quality testing within the gymnasium and throughout the elementary building
- Continued consultation with AACR, the Stephenson County Health Department, the Regional Office of Education
We understand that situations involving mold can understandably raise questions and concerns for families. Please know that we are approaching this situation with an abundance of caution and will continue to rely on guidance from the appropriate professionals and agencies as we evaluate the information available to us.
The elementary gym will remain closed while mitigation and testing are underway. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take any additional actions necessary to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. We are committed to being transparent with our families throughout this process. An additional update regarding the status of the elementary building and our next steps will be shared later today as additional information becomes available.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and trust as we work to ensure a safe environment for all students and staff.