One of the issues the rainy weather this year created was must and moldy smells in area schools.
In early September, Southern Tioga School District superintendent Sam Rotella reported that one area of Liberty Elementary School had been tested because someone noticed a stronger than normal musty smell in the basement, used as an overflow room and physical education classes.
Because of the unusually wet summer the region has experienced this year, all three districts say they took “proactive measures” to make sure the buildings are dry and mold free.
Certified Mold Inspections, Scranton, were called in to test the area and the school was cleared.
There was no water penetration in the 60-year-old building, or any of the district’s four other buildings, NP-Liberty High School, Blossburg Elementary School, NP-Mansfield High School and Warren L. Miller Elementary School in Mansfield.
Miller Elementary’s basement, which is used for some classrooms, is air conditioned, which helps keep must and mold out, according to Rotella. but the other building basements are not used.
Diana Barnes, superintendent of Northern Tioga School District said their schools had no mold.
Northern Tioga has four school buildings that are used for classes, Cowanesque Valley High School, Westfield, Westfield Elementary School, Williamson High School and R.B. Walter Elementary School.
Elkland Elementary School is located in the former Elkland High School, which also houses the administration offices and the STARS program.
Barnes said that during her tenure she recalled a time when some when carpeting was in the building and there was a concern about mold, “but we removed it.”
Wellsboro Area School District superintendent Brenda Freeman said the buildings are “actually are in very good shape, and were tested before school started.”
Mountain Environmental and Radon Services, Courtdale, was called in to test the Don Gill basement before school started, Freeman said.
“We concentrate on that area because we know it is underground but we also make sure all of our buidlings are safe,” said.
