A visual inspection today has revealed mold issues at upwards of a dozen Alamance-Burlington Schools. While these schools must be officially tested, preliminary findings have revealed mold issues on some surfaces and walls in some locations. The District is still awaiting official air quality and lab results for Cummings High School, Williams High School, and Broadview Middle School.
"This news comes at the worst possible time, just days ahead of students returning to classrooms across ABSS," said Superintendent Dr. Dain Butler. "However, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We must address these issues, understanding that some can be quick fixes while others will require more substantial time and resources to fully remediate."
On Tuesday afternoon, ABSS Board Chair Sandy Ellington Graves, Vice Chair Ryan Bowden, Alamance County Commissioner Vice Chair Steve Carter, Commissioner Craig Turner, Superintendent Butler, and Deputy Superintendent Lowell Rogers visited Williams High School to see the mold issues firsthand.
Preliminary assessments indicate the root causes stem from a combination of the age of some school buildings, HVAC systems with insufficient airflow, high humidity levels this summer, and structural damage that has developed over time. These factors have contributed to and exacerbated the mold issues present in parts of multiple schools across the district. The persistent humidity accelerated mold growth in certain facilities this summer.
“While frustrating, this presents an opportunity to make improvements that will benefit ABSS schools for years to come. We owe it to our community to provide safe and healthy learning environments for our students. That is our focus in the days ahead,” Butler added when speaking to the Commissioners today.
More details will be released as testing and remediation plans progress. The school district will continue collaborating with county and state leaders to determine next steps.
