"We are in crisis mode. We ask for patience and adaptability on behalf of our families and our staff as we move forward in the coming days," said Sandy Ellington-Graves, Board Chair of the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education.
Ellington-Graves' statement comes after a joint meeting today between the Board and the Alamance County Commissioners, where the Commissioners agreed to provide an additional approximate $7 million to the District for mold remediation efforts. This new funding will allow for accelerated work this weekend by over 2,000 contractors to improve air quality so schools can reopen soon.
With this latest allocation, the County has now granted more than $17 million total to combat mold issues and make urgent HVAC repairs in ABSS schools. The funds will allow the District to use monies originally earmarked for roof projects towards the more pressing needs.
"We're basically just allowing the District to shift money that was already allocated to them," said Craig Turner, Alamance Commissioner.
"This has been a productive week with three meetings with our County Commissioners to discuss ongoing maintenance needs for our school facilities. I feel confident that by working together, we can develop a plan going forward for critical repairs and improvements that the Commissioners will support," said Dr. Dain Butler, Superintendent.
"As a leader in the County, I want to see us take a proactive approach and create a long-term plan to address issues like HVAC, roofs, and moisture that will help avoid larger problems in our buildings in the future. Our students and staff deserve safe, healthy learning environments, and I believe we are headed in the right direction with our Commissioners to make that happen."
The District Mold Dashboard will remain updated throughout the weekend as we plan for school reopening.
https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/mold-remediation-dashboard