REGIONAL

A report provided to the Region 4 Board of Education (BOE) by consultants hired to investigate the growth and spread of mold at John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS) has identified two likely root causes and offered multiple suggestions for remediation.

The investigative team of QA+M Architecture and its mechanical and structural engineering partners at RZ Design Associates found “various areas of concerns'' following multiple onsite observations of the JWMS facility from Nov. 10 to Dec. 13, suggesting that multiple issues contributed to the growth and propagation of mold.

One of the main root causes identified by the team stems from visible signs of mold growth on improperly installed and insufficient pipe insulation.

“Based on our team’s investigation, it is believed that...improper installation and insufficient pipe insulation, and exposure to humid air inside the building, allowed moisture to condense on the pipes, saturating the insulation. The saturated insulation created an environment conducive for mold growth and propagation,” the team reported.

QA+M and RZ Design recommended to the BOE the removal and replacement of the exposed pipe insulation to the extent that it is fully encapsulated.

The team also identified that the facility’s existing “inefficient” HVAC system does not meet the current ventilation and indoor air quality standards established by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. For the team, this requires a replacement or modification in order to meet those standards.

An inefficient HVAC system at the facility does not have the capability to dehumidify the building interior, allowing for exterior and interior air to create conditions for mold growth.

“During the cooling season, the high humidity levels outside, along with the cool temperatures within the building, create a high potential for condensation of moisture within the building,” specified the report.

The second probable root cause for the mold as determined by the team was the “overall tightness of the building envelope.”

“Based on conclusions noted within the report, it is our opinion that an improperly/ poorly sealed building envelope is a contributing factor to moisture present within the building,” the team stated. “The suspected high levels of air infiltration into the building through existing window openings and wall penetrations makes it very difficult to properly condition the building.”

The roof of the JWMS building is nearing the end of its warranty period and is showing “early signs of failures and potential sources for water infiltration,” according to the report, providing another suspected reason for moisture entering the interior.

QA+M and RZ Design recommended the replacement of existing windows and door assemblies in the building. They recommend thermally broken windows that can help prevent condensation, along with both properly sealed doors and windows can further prevent air infiltration.

As for the roof, “the design team recommends the full replacement of the entire roof, and drainage infrastructure should be implemented as part of the overall solution.” Although visible signs of water infiltration were found in limited areas of the school’s roof design, those conditions still leave the building vulnerable to the infiltration, the team said.

From an environmental standpoint, the identified inefficiencies and out-of-date structural designs were found in the aftermath of last year’s summer season in which the Tri-Town region “received an above-average rainfall creating heightened levels of humidity within the building, creating ideal conditions for moisture formation and growth of mold within the building.”

These findings are solely based on conditions observed during the Nov. 10-Dec. 13 period and are “expected to change and evolve and issues are resolved,” said the team. The district is encouraged to monitor the conditions at the JWMS facility.

At last fall’s BOE meetings regarding the mold situation, educational leaders were asked by JWMS staff about when they could return to the building in person to retrieve resources deemed important to education. Superintendent Brian White said, “Until the building is remediated, only select staff members who have been trained may enter the building. Item retrieval and cleaning of personal items and district property is currently underway.”

An understanding of the timeline and estimated cost of the remediation of the mold is currently unknown by the district as it reviews multiple options for that process.

In the meantime, JWMS students will remain at Valley Regional High School for the remainder of the current academic year, while “staff and administration are working collectively to plan for the teaching and learning of our middle grade students for the spring,” said White.