Hance Elementary closed to address mold issues

The first day of school came on Aug. 23 for all Pine-Richland students except those at Hance Elementary, where mold was recently discovered.

In a letter sent to parents on Aug. 22, superintendent Brian Miller, school principal Greta Kuzilla and director of facilities management Gary Zang announced that the start of school will be postponed indefinitely while they address the issue.

“The district will keep Hance families informed of this work,” they stated in the letter. “We cannot commit to a specific timeline. However, we can assure families that this matter is a top priority and that school will begin as soon as this issue has been addressed. Our decisions and actions are based on the best interests of students and staff.”

Members of the district’s custodial and maintenance department found the mold on some of the pipe insulation located above the drop ceiling in classrooms.

The district then conducted air quality testing which compared samples taken inside the classrooms with those taken outdoors. The results showed “slightly elevated” levels of indoor mold and humidity in the classrooms.

Maintenance staff is now working with a third-party company to remove and replace the insulation and clean the rooms, according to the letter, after which time they will once again conduct air quality testing.

Karen Price is a Tribune-Review contributor.