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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—More than 20 rooms including 16 classrooms, plus offices, gyms and activity rooms at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan needed to be closed and remediated over the last four weeks due to high levels of mold, the district’s superintendent said on Sept. 22.
Superintendent James Santana said that two classrooms—an auxiliary gym and media center—were still closed for mold cleaning as of Sept. 22.
In early September, Santana indicated that the mold issues—then limited to approximately five rooms at NVOT—seemed likely due to the failure of high-efficiency central air conditioning units to remove moisture from the air and a lack of air circulation in closed classrooms during summer, which facilitated mold growth.
In an email sent to parents, students and staff, he blamed the mold problems on an unusually hot, wet and humid summer and high water table.
“We believe that the humidity, wet summer, and the high water table is causing the concrete slab that NVOT is built on to emit moisture. In our newer wing, we are able to control the interior humidity levels much more easily than in the older parts of the building,” said Santana. “It became clear that the new air conditioning units in the old parts of the building would not solve the problem and in fact, made it worse; so we stopped using them based on professional advice.”
Santana said all NVOT rooms were visually inspected and all with potential problems were brought to their attention. He said in addition to rooms with potential mold problems, air samples were taken in various other locations.
“In all, 16 classrooms, four offices, the media center, auxiliary gym, and music rooms were identified as having a higher concentration of mold,” wrote Santana.
Previously, he said there have been mold issues discovered at the Demarest regional high school campus a few years back.
Santana said the mold being found on surfaces is Aspergillus/Penicillium and Basidiospores, “common in our area and typically found in the outside air,” he wrote.
“The media center and auxiliary gym are in the process of being cleaned and we hope to have them cleared for use in the near future, Santana noted in the Saturday email.
He thanked parents for “understanding, patience and support as we continue to work with our environmental company and local efforts to ensure a healthy learning environment at NVOT.”
Over the last month, dozens of reports statewide of mold in schools have made headlines, some postponing school and others shuttering classrooms, gymnasiums and offices. New Jersey’s state climatologist reported August was the second-steamiest since 1895 and wettest since 2011.
Mold was discovered at a Paramus elementary school in September, forcing the school to relocate until the mold growth and mold spores could be eliminated.
Officials there cited the school’s central air-conditioning units and unusually warm and wet summer weather as culprits. One possible remedy mentioned by Paramus officials included adding dehumidifier units to classrooms.
Similarly, Santana said the district “was looking into ways to eliminate moisture.” He said he expected the two final rooms to be open within a week.
Santana said the mold remediation costs were likely to be approximately $100,000.