Home / Education / School Closed: Toxic Mold Endangers Students
School Closed: Toxic Mold Endangers Students
7 Sep
Summary
- Elementary school closed until January due to mold discovery.
- Parent reports severe health issues in daughter linked to classroom mold.
- District confirms mold detection and ongoing remediation efforts.
Del Sur Elementary School in San Diego County will remain closed to students and staff until January due to the discovery of widespread mold. The Poway Unified School District extended the closure to allow for comprehensive remediation and testing of building systems during normal operations.
Parents have voiced serious concerns regarding the health impacts of mold exposure. One mother, Kristen Montan, detailed how her daughter experienced a drastic decline in health, including ADHD exacerbation, frequent headaches, stomach problems, insomnia, and skin issues, starting in January 2022. Lab results later revealed extremely high levels of four different types of mold in her daughter's body.
Independent classroom testing conducted by a teacher corroborated Montan's concerns, finding mold consistent with her daughter's condition, including five toxic black mold varieties. Earlier testing by Air America in July had detected mold in six of seventeen evaluated areas, and despite initial cleaning, lingering issues persisted in three rooms.
