Wilcox schools start after mold abatement

ROCHELLE, GA (WALB) - The school year has finally started for students at Wilcox County Elementary. The school opened for the year after mold delayed the start of school for elementary students for almost two weeks.

It was in the kindergarten wing nearly two weeks ago that slightly elevated levels of unnatural mold prompted the school to hold off the start of classes.

Principal Gary Howell says since then crews have been hard at work conducting an extensive cleaning process. "They took a chemical called Microban, which is EPA approved, and cleaned all the air conditioners. Once they finished that process they treated the classrooms," he said.

Condensation build up in the AC systems was the likely culprit. Even though the mold levels were very low in the nearly 20-year old building, officials didn't want to take any chances. Despite the delay parents understood.

"I got several phone calls last week. They were very thankful for what we were doing. They were very thankful we were taking care of the problem," said Howell.

Sixteen de-humidifiers have been ordered to prevent any future problems in what is right now one of the cleanest schools around. Even though it didn't start on schedule, airing on the side of caution gives school leaders and parents' peace of mind. "Now we know are kids are safe. We know our staff is safe and that's what is the most important thing to us."

And a clean start to the new school year. Wilcox Middle and High schools started on schedule. But because the high school was scheduled to go an extra week in the summer, the elementary school will now do the same to make up for lost days.

The buses were scheduled to run then, so it will likely not affect the tax payers.

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