Board declares emergency and approves fungal remediation at McAteer campus

The board approved an emergency declaration Aug. 24 to remediate a mold infestation at the McAteer campus gym building (part of the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts), citing urgent health concerns and the need to return spaces to instructional use.

Chief of facilities Don Kamala Nopton told commissioners the issue was brought to staff attention in early August; because the building had been largely unused during shelter-in-place and experienced unusually high humidity, conditions allowed mold growth. Kamala said crews have assessed the site and recommended emergency remediation under the public-contract code so work can proceed without the delays of normal competitive processes. He estimated remediation would take about four to six weeks and said the district is coordinating temporary arrangements while work proceeds.

Public comment supported immediate remediation and asked that staff evaluate other sites for similar issues. Commissioner questions focused on whether the district had systems in place to identify mold at other sites and whether a prequalified contractor pool or additional in-house maintenance capacity might reduce future emergency procurements.

The board voted to approve the emergency remediation authority; staff said they would consult with the team to report back on proactive monitoring and procurement improvements.