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 Wednesday that just before the start of the school year that began 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.

A Pittsburgh company was scheduled to arrive at the district Thursday to discuss testing all of the district's buildings and make recommendations.

To attempt to discourage mold growth, Foley is having three dehumidifiers placed in classrooms where the humidity level is elevated.

“Certainly, we want to make sure that everyone is safe in the buildings,” Foley said.

According to the report issued by the company that evaluated the high school classrooms, the main fungi found was in the aspergillus family, which is one of the most common and widespread types of mold.

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

The report from the classrooms showed no evidence of stachybotrys, the black mold that can cause health issues.

“We would have a different course of action if all three rooms came back positive,” Foley said of the initial testing.

He said there is no aroma associated with the mold issue in any building.

Foley suspects that high temperatures and humidity over the summer caused the cooling system to be heavily used, which causes condensation.

He said the air conditioning system was shut down for a time during the summer and has now been restarted, which he also suspects could have contributed to the mold growth.

The district replaced a large rooftop cooling tower over the summer, but Foley did not know if that project contributed to the presence of mold.

Ian Babb, president of the South Butler County Teachers Association, said on Wednesday he is confident that administration will evaluate and remediate any issues found.

Other school districts in the region have experienced mold issues at the beginning of the current school year.

Pine-Richland, Shaler, Plum, Mount Pleasant and Southmoreland school districts have reported mold issues, and some have delayed the start of school or moved students to other buildings.