Francis Howell board approves emergency remediation plan after mold found at Warren Elementary

The Francis Howell School District board on July 16 outlined an emergency plan to remediate surface mold found at Warren Elementary and confirmed the district has contracted specialists to complete remediation and testing before students and staff return.

Deputy Superintendent Pam Erwin told trustees the HVAC project produced elevated humidity that led to surface mold in multiple areas. The district immediately deployed dehumidifiers and air scrubbers, isolated impacted areas with plastic barriers and issued an RFP. "We expect remediation efforts to conclude around August 4," Erwin said, and the district will follow third‑party air‑quality sampling before reoccupancy.

Contractors who spoke to the board described a phased cleanup and testing plan. Jeff Owens, operations manager for 1st On‑site, the firm selected through the emergency bidding process, said the company will zone containment areas, HEPA‑vacuum affected surfaces, remove materials with visible water damage and perform interim testing. "We are projected to hopefully be completed on the 31st [of July] with the actual production and remediation, giving us a few days for air scrub time prior to the final testing," Owens said, adding the team expects to conduct the first zone test about July 20.

Megan Kinker, environmental project manager from Pynchon, said her firm will take an air sample for each cleaned classroom and compare those results both to an outside air sample taken the same day and to Missouri outdoor fungal averages. "If those levels are at or below Missouri fungal averages, then that is a passing containment, and we can move on and reoccupy that room," Kinker said.

Board members pressed administration and contractors on causes, scope and owner notification for contaminated personal items. Owens said items deemed grossly contaminated would be photographed and documented in daily field reports and not disposed of without prior approval. Contractors said unknowns remain around HVAC ductwork and other concealed areas, and that the schedule may change if further issues are discovered.

The board said it had convened an emergency open meeting on July 15 to approve vendor selection so remediation could start immediately. Administration committed to regular updates to the board and the Warren community on progress and on any changes to the timeline.

The district plans final clearance testing by a third party before allowing staff or students back into cleaned areas; the board described that clearance as a necessary condition for reentry.

The remediation work and testing plans remain ongoing; the district will post updates to parents and staff and provide official clearance notices before reoccupation.