Liverpool (WSYR-TV) -- Emergency repairs are set to happen at
Long Branch Elementary in Liverpool after
mold was recently discovered at the school.
Superintendent Dr. Richard Johns says they’re scrambling to fix the problem, which will likely cost just under $100,000.
Classes are still going on at the school, but Dr. Johns wants parents to know that their children are safe. The mold was found in an exterior wall of the school, so the students are not exposed to it. District leaders believe it’s the result of several leaks in the roof.
The mold was discovered after staff members alerted the district to an odd smell.
“Behind the wall of some of our toilet rooms, we had some roof damage in those places, where we had roof leakage... we had mold,” Dr. Johns said.
The leaks were found along the periphery of the building, which houses heating and water lines. While the main roof is in good condition, there are eight small areas that have their own independent roof systems. At least two of those are areas where the mold was found.
"For some folks it's just a nasty odor, for others, it's more than that, they have problems breathing so it's something we want to get cleaned up right away,” Dr. Johns explained.
This week the School Board declared a building emergency and agreed the cost of repairs cannot exceed $100,000. Because of that, the district is eligible for state aid to lessen the burden on taxpayers.
“You can solicit from the State Education Department. This is the process we're going through for emergency funding, so up to $100,000. We can get 84 percent rebated by the state," Dr. Johns said.
The project does need approval from the State Education Department, but that process is being expedited because of the situation. Dr. Johns says there are plans to do air quality tests to make sure students and teachers are safe. He says the plan right now is to have classes go on while the repairs are made.
