Hurley Elementary to move five Visalia classes after mold found in upper-grade rooms
More than 120 Hurley Elementary School students will be forced to a nearby church after mold was found in upper-grade classrooms this week.
The mold, which first appeared last year and pushed some students into the library, reappeared Tuesday.
"As a cautionary measure, all students and staff were relocated to another classroom," according to Erik Kehrer, Visalia Unified's chief operations officer. Kehrer alerted parents via email and text message around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
As a team of mold remediation technicians checked the school Wednesday, they found mold in an additional four classrooms.
As a result, teachers said they're "scrambling" to move out of classrooms while trying to move into classrooms at Neighborhood Church, which will be home to five Hurley classes. Teachers said they were told to bring personal items and prepare for anything, including virtual learning.
District officials said action was taken quickly once the mold was found.
"Our team immediately moved into action when we were made aware of the mold. We want to thank our partner, Neighborhood Church, for their support in housing our students and staff," said Cristina Gutierrez, the district's spokeswoman. "Our staff have moved swiftly to make the move, and we couldn't be more thankful."
Superintendent Kirk Shrum told teachers that "the full resources of the district have been mobilized to support the school as we work to resolve this situation."
Students in these five classes will be relocated on Dec. 1. to the church on Riggin Avenue and Akers Street starting Friday.
Donna Belt, sixth
Taylor Margosian, sixth
Jodi Houser, sixth
Nadira Sutton, fifth
Justine Monroe, fifth
Principal Keri Montoya provided more details in a note to parents Wednesday night. A timeline wasn't provided by VUSD officials, though teachers said it could be anywhere from a week to a month. Winter break begins Dec. 18.
"In working with district office staff and facilities on the current issue in your child's classroom, we coordinated a field trip for students to the District Office tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 30th where they will participate in STEM hands-on activities," Montoya wrote.
"Students will arrive on campus at their normal time and then will be transported by bus to the District Office. They will be provided pizza for lunch and will arrive back on campus at 2:45pm for dismissal. (Fifth) graders in Ms. Monroe and Ms. Sutton's classes will participate in the field trip unless you notify your child's teacher by 8:15am. If you have any questions, please call the office."
The school will remain open for other teachers and students, officials said.
"Our teams are working alongside our certified third-party environmental consultants and contractors to address potential areas of concern," Kehrer wrote in the email. "The safety of our staff and students is our main priority and we will ensure the classrooms are certified for occupancy before allowing students and staff to enter the classrooms."
The northwest Visalia school opened in 1992. It has about 550 students, according to the state.
The EPA states that allergic reactions to mold are common and people, especially those with asthma, should stay away.
The key to mold control is moisture control.
It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or moisture.
Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.
Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Hurley moves 5 classes after mold found in upper-grade rooms
