Update: per Superintendent Barbara Malkad via Facebook, "Today [Aug. 28] we removed all items from the room where the mildew on the equipment was found. The walls were inspected - no mold or mildew was found. The rug was pulled up - no mold was found on the floor underneath or the underside of the carpeting. The only mildew found was on equipment used in the OT/PT room. This equipment was cleaned again and dried outside. With that said the floor is still going to be replaced and the walls painted with mildew resistant paint. All classroom spaces will be tested in the coming days, but I want reiterate that no other classroom has had any mildew reported or seen upon inspection.

 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Brayton Elementary School has been dealing with mold and mildew in more than one classroom.

 

Superintendent Barbara Malkas had explained during a tour of the school last Thursday as part of a Greylock project forum that mold was found in one classroom over the summer and how it was mitigated. On Tuesday, she told the School Committee that mildew had also been discovered in another first-floor room earlier in the month.

 

"When our teachers, who are here tonight, our [occupational therapists] and [physical therapists], came in, there was mildew covering several pieces of equipment and other items that they use in their practice," she said.

 

The space was one of two rooms used for music that have no windows. It had more recently been used as storage but reassigned for therapists to use when the school switched to house Grades prekindergarten through 2. 

 

Malkas said she was notified on Aug. 9 and alerted the facilities department. Cleanup was put on the priority list and everything was wiped down with bleach last week. 

 

"That room had the same treatment in terms of the mildew resistant paint and having the rugs that are there, it's a carpeted room, shampooed," the superintendent said as the rest of the first floor.