Air Quality at Middle School is Good, Small Fixes Still Needed

School Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) reported in an email to the school community on Wednesday, Sept. 15, that the latest air quality tests at the Middle School, from Sept. 7, produced an AQI (air quality index) rating of 14, which is in the “Good” range. District leaders met with Vertex, T2, and CDW Consultants, an environmental and civil engineering firm, to review the findings and determine next steps.

The findings support “focused investigation, cleaning, moisture control, and repairs in specific areas rather than building-wide mold remediation. The District will select a remediation specialist to assess and address the priority areas. Based on what the specialist finds, they will provide the District with a plan to maintain a safe and healthy indoor environment.

The school will continue on its regular schedule and closely monitor conditions while the recommended steps are completed.

Read the comprehensive report on air quality testing here.

Dr. Xi’s Sept. 15 email to the school community follows.

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Greetings ARMS and CSA Community,

I am writing to provide an update on the September 7 air quality testing at Amherst Regional Middle School. The full September 7 air quality report can be found on the website.

District leaders met with Vertex, T2, and CDW Consultants, an environmental and civil engineering firm, to review the findings and determine our next steps.

Key Notes From the Meeting

• The three rounds of testing do not show a building-wide mold condition requiring remediation of the entire building. Instead, the results identify a small number of areas that need focused investigation and environmental controls.
  
• Conditions improved in important ways by September 7. Indoor humidity returned to the recommended range, and no indoor sample contained three specific types of mold linked to excessive moisture—Chaetomium, Stachybotrys, and Ulocladium.
  
• The Hall by Court 2 showed an increase across the three testing dates. The Information Systems room also continued to show elevated levels, including Aspergillus/Penicillium. Hall by Court 1 had previous signs of moisture-related mold. These areas require further investigation before they can be considered resolved.
  
• The report supports correcting sources of moisture infiltration sources, checking water-damaged materials, improving cleaning, and confirming that the ventilation and dehumidification systems are working properly. These focused steps should happen before considering broader air testing or building-wide mold remediation.
  

What We Know

• The September 7 Air Quality Index was 14, which is in the “Good” range. The outdoor rating was 19, also “Good.”
• The Hall by Court 2 and the Information Systems room require the greatest attention. Hall by Court 1 and the Monumental Stairs are the next priority areas.
• The report supports targeted investigation and repairs rather than building-wide mold remediation.

What We Have Done and Are Doing

• HEPA air-cleaning equipment and HEPA vacuums will continue to be used.
• Enhanced HEPA cleaning will focus on the Hall by Court 2, Information Systems, Hall by Court 1, Monumental Stairs, Art-1, and the Kitchen.
• The project team is reviewing possible moisture infiltration sources, including the roof, windows, exterior walls, plumbing, drainage, and ventilation systems.
• The District has begun the required procurement process to engage a qualified environmental remediation specialist. We have a list of potential companies and are working to secure these services.

What We Need to Confirm

• Whether there is hidden moisture or water-damaged material in the priority areas.
• Whether any materials need professional cleaning, removal, or replacement. These decisions will be based on physical findings and moisture testing, not air-sample numbers alone.
• Whether the ventilation and dehumidification systems are performing as expected during a normal, occupied school day.

What’s Next

• The District will select a remediation specialist to assess and address the priority areas. Based on what is physically found, the specialist will provide the District with a plan to maintain a safe and healthy indoor environment.
• Testing will begin with the Hall by Court 2, the Information Systems room, the Hall by Court 1, and the Monumental Stairs.
• If there is reason to believe moisture may be hidden, limited areas behind walls, ceilings, or other surfaces may be opened for inspection.
• If additional air testing is completed, the conditions will be documented, including occupancy, ventilation, cleaning, weather, and construction activity.
• A final evaluation may be conducted during normal school conditions, with the building occupied and the ventilation system operating. The September 7 testing occurred while the building was mostly unoccupied and the ventilation system was off.

The findings support focused investigation, cleaning, moisture control, and repairs in specific areas rather than building-wide mold remediation. The school will continue on its regular schedule while we complete the recommended steps and closely monitor conditions.

We will continue to share updates as the work progresses and we confirm additional information.

Thank you for your continued patience and partnership.

Dr. Xi
Superintendent