Superintendent reports summer facilities work largely complete; mold remediation underway at high school and stadium

Dr. McCracken, the district superintendent, told the Board of Education that most planned summer facilities work was completed and that the district is remediating two separate mold incidents at Norwin High School and Knights Stadium ahead of the school year. She said contractors and district maintenance staff have been treating affected spaces, testing indoor air against outdoor counts, and notifying impacted staff, boosters and parents.
The update described several completed projects and timelines: paving is 99% complete, the performing arts center remains on schedule for an early-January completion, and preliminary stadium utility work is finished with full stadium work planned to begin in early November. On the unplanned issues, Dr. McCracken said one mold event in the high school library resulted from “a clogged condensate line, which created water damage and resultant mold accumulation over a weekend,” and the district filed an insurance claim for that damage. She said the district contracted BELFOR for remediation and that the process included drying, dehumidification, containment, decontamination and disposal of contaminated materials.
The superintendent said most buildings have been cleared after treatment and testing; one classroom at Sheridan Terrace and one unused storage planning space at the high school are still awaiting results. She identified the mold types found as Aspergillus and Penicillium and explained that remediation included surface and air testing, comparison of indoor to outdoor mold counts, pre‑treating, follow‑up treating and monitoring. Dr. McCracken asked board members and community members to confirm facts with administrators before posting on social media and warned against spreading speculation. “When bodies are in the building, mold does not accumulate,” she said to explain why occupied spaces are less likely to develop the problem.
Discussion items: the report noted ongoing biweekly construction meetings for the performing arts center and routine maintenance nearing completion across the district; principals and facilities leaders (named in the report as Mr. Petrarcho, Mr. Sage and Mr. Kirsch) have been coordinating remediation efforts. There was no board action taken on the remediation update at this meeting; the superintendent presented this as an informational status report and said staff will continue testing, remediation and communication with affected parties.
The superintendent requested that board members direct factual questions to her or building administrators and reiterated that communications to families will be provided when specific, confirmed changes occur. She said the district has submitted an insurance claim for library damage and intends to renovate the closed library space once remediation and insurance processes conclude.