Brayton Elementary School - We Hold the Western Gateway

Dear North Adams Public Schools Families,

Thank you to all of the families who have reached out requesting more information about the mildew mitigation plan currently being implemented at Brayton Elementary School. We’d like to share some additional information about mildew growth and the strategies being used to remediate the mildew in the classroom in question.

Mildew Growth and School Buildings
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit.” Essentially, mildew is mold in its earliest stage. Both the EPA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) both indicate that mildew can appear 24 to 48 hours after moisture exposure. Wet or damp surfaces and high indoor air humidity are both factors that can cause mildew to spread quickly if it is not addressed promptly.

While mildew is by no means specific to school buildings, the U.S. EPA notes that “moisture problems in school buildings can be caused by a variety of conditions, including roof and plumbing leaks, condensation and excess humidity. Some moisture problems in schools have been linked to changes in building construction practices during the past twenty to thirty years.” 

Older school buildings, like Brayton Elementary School (built in 1991) suffer from excess humidity in several areas of the building due to the age of its mechanical systems and general construction elements. The district has been working diligently to address these system-related challenges for many years to ensure a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff.

Affected Areas
At this time, the only Brayton classroom affected by mildew is the occupational therapy/physical therapy (OT/PT) classroom which is currently located in the south wing of the building on the lower level. The classrooms adjacent to the OT/PT rooms are not presently used as classrooms. Previous occurrences of mold at Brayton Elementary School that were remediated were located in the north wing of the building. 

For a point of reference, PreK and Kindergarten students are housed on the third floor, first-grade classrooms are housed on the first floor, and second-grade classrooms are located on the first floor (or basement level) along with art, OT/PT, and music.

Mitigation Strategies
Yesterday, August 27th, we shared the mitigation strategies that are being implemented to remediate the mildew in the affected classroom. These strategies align with those specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and include:

• Increasing the air exchange rate in the classroom by 75%

• Increasing the use of dehumidifiers to reduce indoor humidity

• Applying mold-resistant paint to all painted surfaces

• Implementing routine disinfection of all surfaces

• Consistent monitoring of the area for mildew growth so a prompt response can be taken

• Removal of the carpet in the classroom

In addition to these strategies, the district will be taking the following actions:

• The OT/PT classroom and equipment currently housed in an adjacent storage space will be temporarily moved to a classroom located on the first floor of the building, off the gym in the recreation center (formerly the YMCA) 

• All adjacent rooms that are currently not in use will be closed off to all staff and students

• An expert service provider will be contracted to test the air quality in the classrooms throughout the building.