The reopening of Montgomery’s Orchard Hill Elementary School depends on test results and progress in removal of insulation.
By: Jeff Milgram
MONTGOMERY – Students at the Orchard Hill Elementary School got at least four extra days of summer vacation Monday when the school was closed throughThursday, and maybe longer, while crews clean up an extensive mildew growth on carpets and furniture.
The reopening is dependent upon environmental test results and if insulation is removed from all pipes used in the school’s cooling system. The school may stay closed beyond Thursday, school officials said Monday night.
The opening may be delayed because the district must remove the insulation from around pipes hidden within unit ventilators, a job Business Administrator James Strimple said "takes a lot of time and energy."
"We’re not going back in until it’s safe," said Orchard Hill Principal Betty Ward. "When we know it’s safe, we’ll open the building."
The source of the mildew was traced to the moldy and mildewed insulation, Mr. Strimple said Monday.
There were indications Monday night that the Montgomery Township Board of Education may discuss whether the insulation was installed improperly.
The decision to close the school was made Sunday and members of the PTA began making calls to all parents, interim Superintendent Thomas Butler said.
Only seven students showed up for school Monday, Ms. Ward said.
The problem was discovered Tuesday, when custodians found deposits of mildew on furniture and rugs in about 10 classrooms, Mr. Strimple said. The custodians cleaned the school Tuesday and Wednesday but an environmental company found spots Thursday, Mr. Strimple said.
On Thursday night, the 10 classrooms were fogged with a chemical that should have cleaned up the mildew, Mr. Strimple said. The air inside the school was tested and the test results will be known Thursday.
On Friday, more mildew was found on wooden furniture, and township officials and members of the Montgomery Township Board of Education were notified, Mr. Strimple said.
At that time, school officials believed the school could be opened Monday, the first day of the new school year.
"On Friday evening, we decided we would fog the entire building," Mr. Strimple said.
The district also hired an industrial cleaning company to clean all surfaces in the building. The air conditioning system also was checked. And there it was found that the insulation around pipes that carry cold water was wet.
"We’re removing every piece of insulation," said Mr. Strimple.
The district has hired outside contractors and has asked neighboring districts to supply personnel to help with the job. Dr. Butler declined to identify the districts.
All the carpets are being cleaned and those areas that were stained will be removed. The insulation will be replaced with rubber-based insulation. The old wooden furniture and stained ceiling tiles also will be replaced.
Mr. Strimple said the district closed the school because there is no standard for exposure to mildew and people react differently to it. Some people have no reaction, but others can react with runny noses or sneezing, he said. It also could aggravate cases of asthma, Mr. Strimple said.
He said the air conditioning system is only three to four years old.
Mr. Strimple said the mildew was aggravated by the wet conditions this summer.
"There’s always something that kicks us in the shins," Mr. Strimple said.
The days will probably be made up from two in-service days, Dr. Butler said.
Dr. Butler praised the reaction by the parents.
"I think the parents did a wonderful job, the PTA in particular," he said.
The district plans to hold a public meeting on the situation at 7:30 p.m. today at Montgomery Township High School.