The Alamance-Burlington School System recently discovered mold present on surfaces in classrooms at Andrews Elementary School. The mold was found approximately two weeks ago during summer cleaning of the school. During inspection of the school to determine mold remediation needs, mold presence was also found around some of the HVAC return areas.
Upon discovery, the principal and staff working at Andrews Elementary for the summer were immediately relocated along with planned summer school programs to other ABSS schools as a safety precaution. Facilities staff have been working diligently over the past few days with HVAC contractors to assess the problem and determine repair costs.
The source of the mold appears to be the result of a broken compressor in one of the school’s HVAC chiller units. The full replacement cost of the chiller unit is estimated at $250,000. As an intermediate solution, compressor replacement is estimated at $95,000.
Additionally ABSS has approved a contract to fully clean and remediate any mold that may be present in the building at a cost of $652,946. The ABSS Board of Education approved the contract Friday during a special called meeting. The contract also includes a post remediation verification company to certify the work once it's complete to ensure the building is safe for occupancy. The total time frame for repairs and mold remediation is not known at this time.
Andrews Elementary teachers are scheduled to return on August 18, with students arriving on August 28. ABSS is closely monitoring the repair timeline and working on plans to potentially relocate Andrews Elementary students and staff temporarily until repairs can be completed. The District’s top priority is ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for students and staff.
The District remains hopeful that the HVAC issues can be resolved and mold remediation completed in time for the first day of school. However, the District is exploring alternate locations and transportation plans for Andrews Elementary students if temporary relocation is required at the start of the new school year.
ABSS will continue to provide updates on this situation. “We appreciate in advance our families and staff for their patience and understanding as we work to address this issue as swiftly as possible,” said Dr. Dain Butler, Superintendent.