JEFFERSON TWP — Pockets of mold have been found in the buildings of the South Butler School District, but the superintendent said the issue will be evaluated and dealt with in short order.

David Foley, superintendent, said on Wednesday that just before the start of the school year that began on that day, a few areas of mold were discovered in three area rugs that had been unfurled for student use.

The rugs were immediately discarded, the room sanitized and the air tested in the room, which showed acceptable results.

On Monday, Foley received a request for mold testing from a teacher at the high school.

A professional in the industry tested the teacher's classroom and the room next door, rooms 47 and 48, plus a classroom down the hall, room 420, that served as a “control” room in the testing sequence.

Neither the teacher's classroom nor the one next door tested above acceptable levels, but the results from the control classroom showed a reading above the industry standards for acceptable levels of mold, Foley said.

The maximum acceptable level is 2,000 spores per square meter, and the control classroom came back at 5,800 spores per square meter, he said.

Foley asked the teacher in that room to take the students to another room and the room was and remains shut down.

Foley said no respiratory or other symptoms have been reported by any students or staff.

Read more about this story in Friday's Butler Eagle.