HMS Closed Tuesday, Wednesday For Mold Removal, Testing

------------

Hinsdale Middle School will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday as mold discovered last week is eradicated and more testing takes place, according to a letter from superintendent Renée Schuster to HMS parents and staff.

HMS was closed Friday for the removal of wet drywall and cleaning. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a school holiday.

Read more about the water-damage issues at HMS here.

Community members can keep up on HMS facility updates on the District 181 webpage.

The following is Schuster's complete letter:

Dear District 181 Community:

This message is to provide you with the results of the mold testing conducted at HMS by Integrity Environmental Services on Thursday, January 16. Additional updates are described below and require the immediate attention of HMS families and staff.

The results from indoor air quality testing conducted on January 10 after the water damage occurred show the air quality to be well within acceptable guidelines. On January 16, surface samples were taken of possible mold growth observed by SERVPRO staff, who were on site to perform deep cleaning and removal of wet drywall. The results from these samples showed low concentrations of mold spores on the drywall and surface samples tested.

A webpage has been created to provide timely and accurate information regarding the HMS facility challenges that are being addressed. We encourage all HMS families and staff to visit the page for a detailed background of these facility issues and to see further updates as they are announced. We have also posted the written reports from the testing that has been conducted. The webpage can be found at www.d181.org > Schools > HMS > Facility Updates.

The District is working with SERVPRO and Integrity Environmental Services to eradicate the mold following the microbial remediation guidelines provided by Integrity, which are posted on the webpage. After this work is complete, additional testing will be completed prior to resuming classes at HMS.

Perhaps most important to note is that Hinsdale Middle School ONLY will be closed on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22.(As a reminder, all District 181 schools are closed on Monday.) HMS staff will not be in school on Tuesday. However, HMS staff members are asked to check their email for information regarding professional development taking place on Wednesday.

The evening before we resume classes, there will be a meeting where parents and staff can tour the facility and hear reports from representatives from SERVPRO and Integrity Environmental Services. We anticipate that this meeting will occur on Wednesday or Thursdayevening. Please visit the HMS Facility Updates webpage for the confirmed meeting date and time, information about school event cancelations or rescheduling, calendar adjustments and other important news.

In partnership with all of our families, staff and community leaders, we will continue working together to support our HMS school community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Renée Schuster
Superintendent