August 9, 2024
Dear Saint John the Baptist School Families,
Last week, we provided you with an update on a mold situation, caused by high humidity, that we were facing in our school building. In that email, we committed to transparency and communication. Today, we can share that after continued remediation and air quality testing, our school building and all rooms in the building have tested at normal indoor environment levels.
With this positive news, it remains our goal to open the school year as scheduled on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
Since our last email, Compleat Environmental Services, a professional remediation company, has fully cleaned the entire school; every classroom, office area, storage room, hallway, social hall, and duct system have all been cleaned. These spaces were tested by Aether Assessments, an indoor environmental consulting company, which has certified we have normal indoor environment levels.
We are blessed that by working with the Diocesan Office for Buildings and Properties and the Office for Catholic Education, along with Catholic Mutual Insurance, we were able to immediately take action on this situation and contract with experts to address this challenge. While we continue to address our HVAC system and as the health and safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance, we continue to commit to:
1. **Regular Inspections**: We conduct regular inspections of our facilities to maintain a safe learning environment and will enhance our monitoring efforts, particularly concerning humidity levels.
2. **Professional Expertise**: We are working with certified mold remediation specialists who are experienced in handling such situations and will continue to work with experts regarding the environmental aspects of our building.
3. **Ongoing Prevention**: Post-remediation, we will implement additional measures to monitor humidity levels and prevent future occurrences. This includes implementing strategies to manage the relative humidity in our classrooms and hallways, and regular professional environmental assessments, including air quality testing.
4. **Communication**: Transparency is important to us. We will share another update with you next week as well as additional updates as needed to keep you informed of any environmental changes in our building.
As we look forward to the upcoming school year, we do so with a renewed commitment to foster an educational environment that is not just safe, but also challenging and deeply rooted in our Catholic faith.
To our students, we encourage you to approach this year with faith and a desire to learn. You are not just returning to school; you are returning to a faith community that cares deeply about your growth and well-being. Take advantage of every opportunity to pray, learn, explore, and connect with one another.
Thank you for your continued trust in Saint John the Baptist Catholic School. We look forward to a wonderful school year!
In Christ,
Father Mark Wilke
Pastor, Saint John the Baptist Parish
Mrs. Michelle Williams
Principal, Saint John the Baptist Catholic School
August 2, 2024
Dear Saint John the Baptist School Families,
We pray this letter finds you well and enjoying the last weeks of summer. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we wanted to take a moment to address a recent development in our school building.
Recently, we identified mold on some shelving in classrooms and cubbies in our hallway. The mold was caused by high humidity levels in the building, due to the HVAC system not operating correctly. We are fortunate to have identified this situation very early, and assure you that it is being taken seriously. Immediate action was initiated to address this situation, as the health and safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance.
We have worked closely with the Diocesan Office for Building and Properties and Office for Catholic Education, along with Catholic Mutual Insurance, and have contracted with Compleat Environmental Services, a professional remediation company, who are already hard at work to ensure that the affected areas are thoroughly cleaned and treated. The remediation process is well underway, and we are confident that it will be completed efficiently. As part of this process, we have thoroughly inspected the school building and no mold was found on our school walls, floors, or ceiling tiles. Once the remediation process is completed, the entire building will be cleaned and will be inspected by Aether Assessments, an indoor environmental consulting company, to verify that the remediation process has addressed the concern. While the building is safe to be in, out of utmost caution and to allow the remediation company unrestricted access, we voluntarily closed the building to allow the cleaning process to run as effectively as possible. Additionally, we are servicing the HVAC system to ensure it is functioning correctly. It is our goal to welcome students back to school on time, however, we are continuing to evaluate the situation. We will provide you with an update by the end of next week.
For your peace of mind, we would like to share a few essential points regarding our approach to this situation:
1. **Regular Inspections**: We conduct regular inspections of our facilities to maintain a safe learning environment. The discovery of mold has prompted us to enhance our monitoring efforts, particularly concerning humidity levels.
2. **Professional Expertise**: We are working with certified mold remediation specialists who are experienced in handling such situations. They will ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to restore the affected areas.
3. **Communication**: Transparency is important to us. We will keep you informed throughout the remediation process and will share updates as needed.
4. **Ongoing Prevention**: Post-remediation, we will implement additional measures to monitor humidity levels and prevent future occurrences. This includes implementing strategies to reduce and manage the relative humidity in our classrooms and hallways, and regular environmental assessments, including air quality testing.
As a school community, we understand that your children’s safety and well-being are paramount. The resilience and cooperation shown by our families during these times are commendable, and it strengthens our commitment to providing a nurturing environment for our students.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your understanding and trust in us. We look forward to a wonderful school year filled with growth and learning, while always focused on our Lord, Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Father Mark Wilke
Pastor, Saint John the Baptist Parish
Mrs. Michelle Williams
Principal, Saint John the Baptist Catholic School