Pennfield Middle School (Credit: NPSD)
District says issue linked to summer humidity; school year to begin on time Aug. 26
North Penn School District officials said mold discovered this summer in modular classrooms at Pennfield Middle School has been cleaned and remediated ahead of the new school year.
In an Aug. 19 letter to Pennfield families and staff, Principal Dr. Sean O’Sullivan and Facilities Director Bill Slawter said suspected mold was first identified in mid-July by staff during the district’s Extended School Year program. Students were immediately relocated to other parts of the building while facilities staff investigated and cleaned the modular units.
District officials attributed the growth to unusually high humidity combined with ventilation systems drawing in outside air.
“The spaces were cleaned, carpets were shampooed, all HVAC systems were vacuumed, and vital oxide atomization was utilized,” said Christine Liberaski, the district’s director of school and community engagement.
Third-party review confirms remediation
The district said it contracted Criterion, an environmental and industrial hygiene consulting firm, to inspect the classrooms after cleaning and subfloor moisture testing. Criterion reported that all moisture levels were within acceptable limits and confirmed the district’s remediation efforts “follow the current professional guidelines for mold remediation.”
Liberaski said the incident was the result of a system failure over a weekend that allowed moisture to build up, leading to surface mold on carpeting in several rooms.
“No students or staff are in danger,” Liberaski said.
Pennfield Middle School (Credit: NPSD)Steps taken to prevent recurrence
In addition to disinfecting and cleaning carpets, chairs, desks and surfaces, the facilities department also added dehumidifiers and fans, sprayed with Vital Oxide, and confirmed HVAC systems were operating correctly.
To prevent future issues, the district has strengthened summer maintenance protocols for modular classrooms, including monthly disinfectant spraying, pre-summer HVAC checks, and routine visual inspections during summer months.
School officials said they are confident Pennfield Middle School will be ready to welcome seventh-graders back on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
