The Watson Chapel School District Board of Education approved a contract Friday to clean and remediate possible contamination at Coleman Elementary School after testing identified indoor air quality concerns.
During a special meeting on July 24th, board members voted 3-1 to approve a contract with Metro Disaster Specialists of North Little Rock for up to $197,284.08. Three board members were absent from the meeting.
The project includes hazardous material remediation, structural cleaning, HVAC cleaning, air quality testing and project management services for all classrooms and buildings on the Coleman Elementary campus.
The district will pay for the work using either its operating fund or building fund.
The issue came to light after newly appointed Principal Cachet Rayford reported an unusual odor inside the school.
Testing found that several hallway units designed to keep indoor humidity below 60% were not functioning properly.
Elevated humidity can create conditions that allow biological contaminants, including mold, to develop.
While the greatest concern was identified in the school’s fifth-grade building, the district opted to clean every room and building on campus as a precaution. Coleman Elementary serves students in second through fifth grades.
A second round of testing was conducted by Arkansas Mold and Water Co. and Metro Disaster Specialists to help identify any affected areas. District officials also determined a leaking HVAC unit may have contributed to the problem.
The approved contract includes hazardous material remediation, structural and carpet cleaning, deodorization, HVAC cleaning, air quality testing, air scrubbers with HEPA filtration and project supervision.
The scope of work may be adjusted based on the final air quality testing report.
Teachers are scheduled to return to Coleman Elementary on August 5th, five days before students begin classes, and the district said it is taking a proactive approach to ensure the campus is safe for staff and students before the start of the new school year.
