Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Professional environmental contractors are completing remediation work in classrooms identified through the most recent evaluation. Anti-microbial cleaning will also occur in all occupied indoor spaces and HVAC closets. Ductwork will be cleaned. Air scrubbers with HEPA filtration and dehumidification are also being installed in all classrooms, along with additional dehumidification or portable cooling equipment in the open rotunda area to help reduce moisture.

Following remediation, an independent contracted industrial hygienist, will reevaluate the affected spaces. Re-testing is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, with results expected Sunday or Monday, August 16 or 17. Classrooms will not be returned to normal use until the District has received the independent hygienist’s evaluation confirming that the identified issues have been appropriately addressed.

In addition, humidity-monitoring devices will be installed in every classroom so conditions can be monitored in real time, and the District will continue evaluating the broader campus conditions to identify and address any underlying causes.

The Extended Student Services (ESS) program took place on campus over the summer. At the time of the program, there were no concerns reported in the classrooms , and the moisture related concerns developed well after the program had concluded.

For families of students who receive special education services: If the closure continues beyond what is originally anticipated, we will work with each student's IEP team individually to determine what additional support may be needed. You will hear directly from the school and Special Education Department when more information is available.

We considered whether students and staff from the affected classrooms could be temporarily relocated elsewhere on campus. Unfortunately, Del Sur does not have enough available classroom space to relocate all of the impacted classes while still safely and effectively operating the rest of the school.

Determination of indoor air quality condition is based on the Eurofins Mold Score ranking. The score is calculated from paired indoor and outdoor air samples collected via spore traps, and it estimates the likelihood that the spores found indoors actually originated and are growing inside the building (as opposed to just blowing in from outside).

Acceptable: Less than 150; low probability of molds spores originated from indoors Moderate: 150 to 250; moderate probability of mold spores generating from indoors Elevated: More than 250; high probability of mold spores generating from indoors

Acceptable Rooms: 204, 205, 221, 224, 135

Rooms with Moderately Elevated Levels of Penicillium/Aspergillus Mold Spores - These rooms should be recleaned and resampled: 222, 127, 137, 142, 147

Rooms with Elevated Levels of Penicillium/Aspergillus Mold Spores - These rooms should be investigated for a source of mold growth, corrected, recleaned, and resampled: 123, 124, 126, 132

Post-remediation testing is expected to take place on Saturday, August 15. We expect to receive the results and evaluation from the independent industrial hygienist on Sunday or Monday, August 16 or 17.

Once we receive and review that information, we will communicate with staff and families as quickly as possible. That update will include the results, the status of classroom re-occupancy, and the latest information about the school reopening timeline.

We understand that families and staff are eager for certainty about when school will reopen. We also want to make sure that decision is based on the completed remediation work and the independent hygienist’s evaluation. Affected classrooms will not return to normal use until the independent hygienist has determined that the identified issues have been appropriately addressed and the spaces are acceptable for re-occupancy.

A classroom will be returned to normal use only after the necessary remediation has been completed and the space has been reevaluated by the District’s independent contracted industrial hygienist.

That evaluation considers multiple factors, including whether the identified moisture or mold source has been addressed, whether the recommended cleaning and remediation have been completed, the condition of the room following that work, and the results of follow-up sampling when required.

This approach is consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance for mold remediation in schools and commercial buildings. EPA guidance focuses on correcting the underlying water or moisture problem, removing mold and mold-damaged materials, and confirming that visible mold and mold-related odors are no longer present. When sampling is used, those results provide additional information for evaluating whether remediation has been successful.

There is no federal numerical standard that establishes a single universally “safe” level of airborne mold spores. For that reason, the determination is not based on one test result or number alone. The independent industrial hygienist considers the testing results together with the condition of the space, the work that has been completed, and professional judgment in determining whether additional remediation is necessary.

At Del Sur Elementary, any room requiring additional work will be cleaned or remediated and reevaluated, including additional sampling when appropriate. A room will not be cleared for normal occupancy until the independent industrial hygienist determines that the identified issues have been appropriately addressed and the room is acceptable for re-occupancy.

If the independent industrial hygienist determines that additional work is needed in a classroom, that room will remain out of use. The District will complete the additional recommended remediation and have the space reevaluated before it is returned to normal occupancy. We will also assess what that means for the reopening timeline and communicate any changes to staff and families as quickly as possible.

An independent industrial hygienist, will evaluate the affected classrooms following remediation and determine whether the identified issues have been appropriately addressed and the spaces are acceptable for re-occupancy.

This determination is not made by District staff alone. The industrial hygienist will consider the remediation work that has been completed, the condition of each space, whether identified moisture or mold sources have been addressed, and the results of post-remediation testing.

If the independent industrial hygienist determines that additional work is needed in a classroom, that room will remain out of use while the recommended work is completed and the space is reevaluated. Affected classrooms will not be returned to normal use until the independent industrial hygienist determines they are acceptable for re-occupancy.

New thermostats will be installed that can monitor room humidity and alert the Facilities Maintenance & Operations department if high levels of moisture are detected. This will allow staff to respond and adjust the HVAC systems before a problem occurs.

Staff will also consult with its architects, mechanical engineers, and HVAC technicians to seek out the cause of the higher moisture levels in the building and determine a permanent solution to the humidity problem.

Yes, all indoor spaces will be evaluated.

While only some classrooms have reported problems, we are taking the extra precaution to clean and test all spaces.

To rule out cross contamination and to ensure that undiscovered mold is remediated, all indoor spaces will be cleaned and tested.

Yes. We will make the indoor air quality testing reports public.

Humidity-monitoring thermostats will be installed in every classroom so the District can monitor conditions in real time and respond promptly if elevated moisture levels are detected. Dehumidifiers will be available to remain in place as appropriate to help manage indoor air and moisture conditions.

In addition, District staff will continue to monitor the campus for signs of excess moisture and evaluate the broader building conditions to identify and address any underlying causes. If monitoring or observation identifies a concern in a classroom or other space, the District will investigate promptly and, when appropriate, consult with environmental professionals to determine whether additional evaluation, testing, or corrective action is needed.

These measures are intended to provide ongoing monitoring after the school reopens rather than treating the completion of remediation as the end of the process.