Zack Stoycoff
Staff Reporter
CLAREMORE —
What is most likely a mold outbreak in Claremont Elementary School’s kitchen will be cleaned up before students begin classes this Thursday, Claremore Superintendent Mike McClaren said.
The school’s janitorial staff found mold this week that was probably caused by frequent rain early this summer - a time when the air circulation system in the kitchen and a nearby storage area was damaged and was circulating warm, damp air, McClaren said. The mold had been largely removed by Friday afternoon, he said.
“We don’t know if it’s mold but it’s definitely something fuzzy,” he said. “It’s similar to what you get if you leave cheese in the refrigerator a long time.”
The area has been cleaned with water and bleach, and crews will clean it again before students arrive, McClaren added.
“We’re certainly not going to put any faculty, staff or students at risk,” he said. “And we’re certainly not going to prepare food in an area with mold.”
The school threw away pieces of furniture made of fabric that were near the mold “if there was any question they were contaminated,” McClaren said. Some molds can go airborne and travel through air ducts once cleaning begins, according to the state health department.
Most molds pose no danger, but people exposed to rare toxic molds can experience fatigue, nausea, headaches or eye irritation.
McClaren said there have been no health affects so far and the school is following state guidelines for mold removal.
“There’s really not a concern,” he said.
Mary Beth Murray, Rogers County Health Department director, said her office does hear of similar mold cases but refers mold reporters to mold removal services, as mold outbreaks are not tracked by the health department.
