SAINT JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA) — St. Joseph-Ogden High School is tackling more than just the usual back-to-school activities. A mold issue has been discovered in the building, leading administrators to close off a wing as they work to reduce the mold levels.
The superintendent said a few teachers did feel some allergy-like symptoms, such as a scratchy throat or runny nose, but no one got seriously sick.
The situation came to light when a teacher noticed mold near a few desks and around ceiling vents on Aug. 12. Specialists were called in, and by Aug. 13, the south wing of the building was shut down to address the problem.
Students came to school for their first full day of classes the next day.
Senior Sophia Kasper said the closure hasn’t affected her learning.
“The administrators have kept us informed and encouraged us to reach out with any concerns,” Kasper commented. “They’ve been amazingly supportive, so it’s been managed well and hasn’t been too disruptive to the school year.”
Administrators said it isn’t toxic, but it’s known as a nuisance mold.
The school has been actively working on removing the mold over the past couple of weeks and has already cleared part of the south wing. It appears the mold may have spread due to a leaky H-VAC compressor, along with another compressor failure. With both issues now resolved, they hope to eliminate the remaining mold in the coming weeks.
