The state Department of Education said Tuesday efforts are underway to address mold and other issues at Holualoa Elementary School.
School officials have been working with the school’s staff over the past couple of months to address mold issues in some of the school’s classrooms, according to Nanea Kalani, communications director for the DOE.
“After receiving reports of poor indoor air quality and mold contamination, HIDOE’s Environmental Services Unit conducted a mold assessment on Jan. 5. Samples from four classrooms verified the presence of spores from common species of mold that may affect those who have sensitivity and/or allergies. There was no evidence of black mold,” she said via email.
The DOE’s response came a day after a press conference held on the Presidents’ Day holiday in which the Hawaii State Teachers Association, teachers and parents called out the department of an apparent lack of inaction the mold and other issues like rats, termite damage, lead paint peeling from ceilings, the January closure of the largest student restroom on campus, and a roadway that goes through the middle of campus.
Kalani also provided copies of two letters dated Jan. 5 and Jan. 20 sent to parents informing them of the situation at the school, and what steps were be taken.
To date, two classrooms have been temporarily relocated to alternate settings while the mold issue is addressed, Kalani said.
All classrooms are being monitored for evidence of mold.
While a long-term solution is being worked toward, the department has already made efforts to reduce moisture and condensation in buildings. That includes increasing the temperature in the server room to minimize condensation and promoting cross-ventilation in all rooms during school hours by opening windows and exhausting air to the outside on one side of the room using fans to minimize condensation.
Dehumidifiers for each room have been procured. Dehumidifiers run overnight to lower the relative humidity overnight. “Initial sensor monitoring data is encouraging,” she said.
The department is also contracting professional services for deep cleaning of all rooms that have mold issues.
“After the rooms are cleaned, a cleaning regime and upkeep by the school team and/or additional casual hires will be developed,” Kalani said.
Regarding rats in classrooms, Kalani said the department’s Vector Control unit has been assisting the school on a bi-monthly basis.
The state is also working to initiate renovation of two portables that are currently vacant. That work entails removing carpets and painting the classrooms with mold-inhibiting paint.
“Plans are to address classrooms two classrooms at a time,” Kalani said.
A definitive timeline of when the work will be done was not provided, however, the department noted work is ongoing and additional professional cleaning will be scheduled as needed.
Long-term, the department is looking at a $57 million phased project to improve the campus per its master plan. Former-Gov. David Ige last fall released $2 million released for the first phase of planning and design for campus improvements including a new classroom building, flexible learning spaces, a library and/or administrative facilities, and parking improvements.
“The overall $57 million project will occur in phases as future funding becomes,” the department said.