According to the district, an initial inspection found no visible leaks, no standing water and no obvious signs of mold at the school.
Evesham Township School District officials spent the end this week investigating the potential presence of mold in Jaggard Elementary School, according to school officials.
In a letter to parents and staff, ETSD Superintendent John Scavelli Jr. said the district received a complaint about mold and other “unbecoming conditions” following a new family orientation at the school on Aug. 23.
Following the complaint, Scavelli said district maintenance staff followed protocols from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and immediately conducted a visual inspection of the area.
According to Scavelli, the district’s initial inspection found “no visible leaks, no standing water, and no obvious signs of mold.”
Scavelli said staff also checked the school’s HVAC system in the music room where complaints originated, but according to Scavelli, there were no signs of leaks, no standing water in the drain pan and no signs of mold in or around the system.
Scavelli said staff also conducted moisture readings, with results measuring low to medium.
According to Scavelli, staff conducted an additional visual inspection on Aug. 24, and while they did find a “slight musty odor” near the music room and rear hallway, Scavelli attributed it to carpets being cleaned earlier in the week, which he said was not unusual.
Scavelli also said that earlier in the summer the floor in the school’s gymnasium had been stripped and waxed, with it now appearing wet because of the shine, and in a few hallways of the building, cleaning equipment, fans and ladders were present, which Scavelli said was not unusual for this time of year.
However, Scavelli said the district would also conduct additional work regarding the complaints, starting Aug. 25.
“Although unsubstantiated, but as an extra precautionary measure, we also met with an engineering firm today (Aug. 24) to initiate an independent evaluation of the roof in the area of the building in question, inspect our HVAC system, and conduct air quality testing,” Scavelli said.
Based on the actions taken so far, Scavelli’s Aug. 24 letter said Jaggard School was scheduled to open its doors for the district’s staff in-service on Sept. 1 and welcome new students on Sept. 6.
