REGIONAL

The Region 4 Board of Education (BOE) is determined to find a solution for mold remediation at John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS) and meet student needs after being presented with multiple different plans and attached costs at a meeting on Jan. 23.

The BOE moved to pursue a plan and “necessary funding options to remediate the current mold outbreak” and install new pipe insulation infrastructure, and control systems. The plan would also involve examining the existing HVAC system that was deemed inefficent by the investigative team that performed the root cause analysis.

A fully detailed plan and cost estimate is to be presented by consultants Arcadis as a board meeting and will be up for referendum as a separate item from the general education budget at an undetermined date.

“The goal is to have this work accomplished prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year so that staff and students may return to JWMS,” said Superintendent Brian White in a Jan. 24 communication to families and district staff. Additionally, “the Board directed administration to pursue supplemental dehumidification equipment as necessary, to maintain appropriate moisture levels in the building,” he said. Also to be worked on will be the installation of new ceilings and touch - ups on any other needed repairs.

The BOE will also work with its consultant firm Enviromed “to ensure that post remediation testing occur in accordance with State of Connecticut air quality standards,” added White “If such guidelines are unavailable from the State of Connecticut, the district administration was directed to adopt a humidity level standard that will not support the sustained growth of mold at the middle school."

The board took the advice of tri-town officials who joined the BOE urged educational leaders to accelerate their process and find a solution that considers the health and well-being of JWMS students. They cited the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that students were already navigating the past few years, compounded with them still trying to adapt to a new learning environment at VRHS.

“These kids are struggling. We need to move forward,” said Essex Selectman Stacia Libby. “You can get them back into school, hopefully, at the beginning of next school year and stop the disruption on these children. It is affecting them emotionally. It's affecting their education.”

Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman said the district made a “disastrous mistake” by not hiring a Facilities Director after its previous one, Essex Selectman Bruce Glowac, left the position. Needleman strongly suggested to the BOE to hire a new Facilities Director to assume the responsibility of looking after the condition of district buildings that the custodial staffs cannot do alone.

VRHS Media Specialist Denise Dalton also asked the BOE “to take the steps to solve the small problem” of beleaguered teachers leaving the district by settling on a plan for remediation.

“I know that's a big hurdle to go through, but I urge you to solve the smaller problem first because I fear that teachers will start to leave this district,” Dalton said. “At Valley, we’ve already lost a teacher in the middle of this year as a result of this. I’m wondering how many other teachers are currently looking for jobs because they're not feeling supported with the space they need to give the best education that they know how to give.”

BOE Chair Kate Sandmann acknowledged that the plan would be an “imperfect solution” but added that “our community can bear it.”