- August 22, 2017
Willowridge High School students were forced to move to a temporary campus. The school, which in the Fort Bend district, had a large presence of indoor mold growth. Students, faculty, and staff had to move to Marshall High, approximately 5 miles away, while the mold was being handled.
The students of Willowridge High School in Fort Bend, Texas, had to start their school year at a different campus. Mold contamination forced the move.
The Fort Bend School District said that Willowridge High had to undergo an intensive cleanup in order to remove the mold growth that was discovered at the school by workers over the summer. Students, faculty, and staff had to move to Marshall High School, about 5 miles away, while the mold was being remediated at their home school.
In a letter issued to the community, Fort Bend School District Superintendent Charles Dupre said, “Despite our round-the-clock efforts, the school will not be ready to welcome students on the first day of school. As part of the remediation, the Fort Bend School District intends on having new flooring, ceiling tiles, and sheetrock installed at Willowridge High. New classroom, office furniture, and instructional materials and equipment will also be acquired. The new materials will replace existing materials that were contaminated with mold.
Several factors were taken into consideration when determining if Marshall High students should share the space with Willowridge High students. According to Superintendent Dupre, these factors included the close proximity of the two schools, the availability of space, and the positive relationships between the students and staff at both schools.
According to Dupre, the principals of both high schools met with a large number of staff from both schools, as well as members of the community. It was determined that rather than splitting students up by grade levels and sending them to different facilities or campuses, keeping all Willowridge students and staff together in the same location would provide students and staff with the best learning environment possible while the mold remediation was taking place.
According to officials of the school, remediation is forecasted to be finished by the middle of September; however, officials did caution that additional work will need to be completed before students and staff can safely return to the Willowridge High campus.
After assessing reports issued by the school, a local newspaper estimated that the cost of cleaning up and repairing Willoridge High will be approximate $7.6 million.
It is imperative that the remediation process is handled properly, as exposure to mold can cause a number of health complications. Symptoms that are associated with mold exposure include nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, skin irritation, fatigue, headaches, and respiratory issues. To ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff, proper mitigation is essential.
Mold Inspection & Testing Dallas has years of experience performing mold testing in schools throughout Dallas and the surrounding areas. To ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff, the Fort Bend School District should arrange to have mold testing performed on a regular basis. To speak with an MI&T representative, please call 972.559.4115.
