Moldy Illinois elementary school building condemned

MOUNDS, Ill. -- A Southern Illinois school building was condemned after education officials announced Friday that "toxic" black mold was so prevalent the building wasn't safe for students.

The announcement, by regional superintendent of schools Janet Ulrich, said the Meridian Elementary School building in Mounds was condemned and the doors were locked on Friday. A sign saying the building is unfit for occupation is posted outside.

Mold on ceiling tile at Meridian Elementary School.

An architect was called in May, and the Illinois Department of Labor confirmed the presence of black mold in the building. After a second review and a walk-through by a state board of education health and safety official, a letter from the Illinois State Board of Education was submitted to Ulrich's office this week with a recommendation to condemn the building.

Mold in kitchen at Meridian Elementary School. (Photo by Janet Ulrich)

Meridian Elementary's 450 kindergarten through eighth-grade students have been sharing Meridian High School this year in shifts as the problem was investigated. Plans for the demolition of the elementary and construction of a new building haven't been determined, according to the news release.

When the elementary school was constructed 32 years ago, there were no requirements for a vapor barrier, which is like strong sheet of plastic between the brick wall, insulation and drywall. "The weather has been very moist over the last several years, especially since 2011, and with the heavy rains in the spring," Ulrich said. "In the spring, we had some rain do damage to the high school, and then you take into consideration no vapor barriers and it's in a low-lying area. It probably should not have been built in that area for this reason."

Another factor contributing the mold is that there are no windows in the classroom section. The building has a rectangle for the main office and the cafeteria and gym. "But from that point, if you go any direction, there's a small hallway, then it creates what we call a pod. These three pods where the classrooms are located, it's bricked up with no windows. It's brick walls, insulation and drywall, so lights never exist. It contributes to the growth of mold when it's so dark," Ulrich said.

Mold on ceiling at Meridian Elementary School.

Ulrich is in charge of 19 school districts and 36 to 40 buildings in five lower counties in Southern Illinois. Her office does health, safety and compliance inspections and assists districts with matters like mold.

In collaboration with the school administrators, school board and state board of education, her office will try to help the Meridian district obtain funds to build a new building. If the district adds on to the high school, it would cost an estimated $6.5 million. Because the district and Pulaski County are among the poorest in the state, the district might qualify for 75 percent of that amount from the capital development board.

Mold on classroom carpet at Meridian Elementary School.

The district may also decide to building a new campus on higher ground, but Ulrich said it's up to the Meridian School Board as to what it wants to do.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

Mold on interior floor at Meridian Elementary School.

208 Valley Road, Mounds, IL