ADAMS TWP — A Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture food safety inspection report conducted this week found Mars Middle School to be out of compliance with state code.

The report comes as district officials received word that testing for mold at the elementary school found no issues and ordered additional testing at other district buildings.

The Department of Agriculture report indicates an inspection of the Middle School Tuesday found three violations.

The interior of an ice machine was found to have “black moist residuals” on the top door area. The report notes that the machine is typically used for cooling foods, but teachers and staff sometimes use it for drinks.

On Friday, a Department of Agriculture representative said they could not confirm what “black moist residuals” were unless testing was conducted.

The ice machine also was found to have a “clean machine” indicator lit. The report states kitchen staff said the light had been on since last school year and the machine had not been cleaned. For both instances, the report advises the machine be cleaned and properly maintained.

Additionally, the food facility was found to not have available sanitizer test kits to determine the appropriate sanitizer concentration.

Superintendent Wes Shipley said Friday he had not yet reviewed the report.

The district contracts its food services with The Nutrition Group. Previous inspections dating back to 2016 found the building to be in compliance. Additionally, the Centennial School was found to be in compliance in a similar inspection Tuesday.

Air tests

Also Friday in a letter on the district's website, Shipley said air tests were conducted Wednesday at the elementary school.

An initial, verbal report on Thursday from Accredited Environmental Technologies Inc. indicated that all mold counts in the building are under recommended limits. Shipley added the amounts are lower than those found in the air outside.

Official documentation of the inspection will be sent later and will be shared with parents, he said.

Shipley said in an effort to be cautious, air quality at every district building will be tested.

The inspection came this week after reports of a “foul, musty” odor were made at the elementary school. A similar odor two years ago was found to be from bats in the penthouse area of the building's roof. Evidence of a bat roosting was found, and the area was sealed to prevent it from returning.

District personnel also found and removed wet insulation from an air duct at the building, which Shipley said “greatly reduced the presence of the odor.” Over the weekend, staff will again look at the insulation behind walls in the penthouse areas to see if any additional action is needed.

“Our primary goal going forward, especially given the recent heat, humidity and heavy rains, is to control moisture, which the EPA indicates is the best way to control any type of mold growth,” he wrote.