[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6145978,"mediaKeyId","5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b","parentId",5529842,"title","Flossmoor SD 161 pauses classroom refresh as persistent humidity, mold issues prompt forensic review","audioSeconds",3052,"startMs",966000,"endMs",4018000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b&start=966&end=4018","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b/thumbnail_966000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6145978/Illinois/Flossmoor-SD-161-pauses-classroom-refresh-as-persistent-humidity-mold-issues-prompt-forensic-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145978-28eeb6ade5d731ced181526eb0a9a69b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450692&Signature=XUTK26zML0f0SJbh5uXUCuJF2hMNUUbeNoZIk0UQ49wxeC7pywAv5r1ZoUtk0ieeD37kup0qeBA1Bz47dEh5nWfw5uu9myYzqZLBmPVaa8Y-~QF7FLjNPdrHBNjsLaGltoujz~jkFNDWsrxWk10Z4bxyrhWG8JuOJEvqv0WSlTMjixLP8wDwCFP~N9KuGMaX9baldaZiKzdKdhO7oeN-SGQmvfiiGYEv7LqeWplFTM9cbhXdcmiNG7TJp8~A57imdJI0p9Ni6zzvunThOYRIS1SZFwDr0tfis84o9Acj0mxe5xxNfs6Dhh1lv--GuMUAkQhfrjvMc61SqYRLEpwYEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Flossmoor SD 161","date","2025-08-05T00:11:31Z","article","At the April 4 Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education meeting, district staff told the board that persistent summer humidity and condensation at Flossmoor Hills School — and elevated humidity at Western Avenue School — have damaged ceiling tiles and floor coverings, forced removal of wet materials and led the administration to pause planned classroom refresh work until forensic engineering reviews are complete.

District staff said the buildings have required emergency steps, including placing a rented dehumidifier in every classroom and office and removing wet ceiling tiles to allow the plenum spaces to dry. \"We have removed the ceiling tiles,\" Fran, a district staff member, said, adding that crews were cleaning visible mildew and ordering replacement tiles.

The board heard that contractors and Wold, the district’s engineering consultant, have monitored the buildings since the HVAC upgrades in 2021. Matt Burton, a mechanical engineer with Wold, told the board the problem appears each year in a roughly six- to eight-week window in late summer and early fall and that the district has tried multiple HVAC- and control-based fixes. \"When you bring air in, you gotta let air out,\" Burton said, explaining the role of building pressure and exhaust fans in managing outdoor-air ventilation.

Wold staff reported that chilled-water piping insulation in the ceiling plenums is condensing and that building-envelope infiltration — gaps at the exterior soffit and wall interface from older construction — likely lets moist air into the plenum. Mike Eichhorn, an architectural team member with Wold, said the buildings lack a modern air barrier and weather barrier, increasing the risk of vapor movement through materials.

The administration described actions already taken: installing control changes and return grills to improve airflow above ceilings, adding dehumidification sequences to unit ventilator controls, replacing exhaust fans and rebalancing the HVAC system, and daily monitoring of rooms. Staff said humidity has been reduced in many rooms to roughly 60–70 percent with dehumidifiers in place, but several classrooms have registered humidity levels as high as 90 percent at times.

Because cosmetic renovations would be ruined if the underlying moisture problem persists, the administration recommended postponing classroom refresh work at Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue until the district can confirm a reliable technical fix. \"It would seem to us that this has to be the priority,\" Fran said. District staff said they will engage forensic architecture/engineering firms to perform thermal imaging, material forensics and computational modeling of airflow and vapor movement, obtain multiple quotes, and bring those findings and recommended scope back to the board at the next meeting so the work can be incorporated into next summer’s bid packets if appropriate.

District staff provided preliminary cost notes: replacement ceiling tiles were estimated at \"about $1,010,000 or so\" in the meeting record, dehumidifier rental runs a few thousand dollars for the near term, and air-quality testing costs were described as roughly $1,500–$2,000. Staff said many floor rugs were inexpensive throw rugs and that larger carpeted areas are being cleaned and can be restored rather than replaced.

Board members said safety is the top priority and asked the administration to obtain the forensic reports early enough for the board to review them in advance of any decision. Several board members indicated low risk tolerance for accelerating the renovation timeline before the engineering findings are known. The administration said drawings for the next summer’s work are due in the coming months and that, depending on the forensic findings, the repair could be a relatively simple envelope repair or a much larger, costlier project.

No formal board action to delay the broader construction program was taken at the meeting; staff described the plan as a recommendation and a direction to obtain forensic analyses and competitive quotes and to return recommendations to the board for consideration.

District officials said air-quality testing will continue and that classrooms will reopen with dehumidifiers and some ceiling tiles left open until humidity subsides. Staff described the implementation risk as \"high\" until the forensic review can establish the root cause and an effective remediation plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Of Education Meeting 08-04-2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 4 Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education meeting, district staff told the board that persistent summer humidity and condensation at Flossmoor Hills School — and elevated humidity at Western Avenue School — have damaged ceiling tiles and floor coverings, forced removal of wet materials and led the administration to pause planned classroom refresh work until forensic engineering reviews are complete.","taxTitle","Flossmoor SD 161, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",53605,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6145968,"Resident raises concerns about meeting notice and Capturing Kids' Hearts training; asks about DePaul placement and Kings Way Home Health",365,264000,629000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b&start=264&end=629","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b/thumbnail_264000.jpg","/articles/6145968/Illinois/Resident-raises-concerns-about-meeting-notice-and-Capturing-Kids-Hearts-training-asks-about-DePaul-placement-and-Kings-Way-Home-Health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145968-e7855cdb5bb79e2fe3d3850789daea1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450692&Signature=nTXP3fnykh5P3CargbmD-YiTUGg7-XIM7BI3xa~w765VzFgy3IvHaGZBrcmVFq8ejCMf~j85xD6vxav5PKC1V7BIcqml~5SBO11G~3QuCFZ4AdlwggoywZIl5dAq9RK9-YlI4DQfLgnWxoGF-CTscFh2C6iCLwRXl0kdz0Gby0JSxry~i1IU7N84kqLFdqlR2LTEfr8SH6JeBCY3HGzbidHOau4wfKDg9Bc6~84JbR3YU1R-kcRZEptWDcjLCdnWYf8WuiXhzwFMNLjzaD6dWMS9Y8h5SaOiGkvnf-tfqAh6iirqhcHHhPgkfS1rZbxaEwtewPhSDJUagVlVdB9~fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the audience-comment portion of the April 4 Flossmoor SD 161 Board meeting, a resident identified as Mrs. Throck said she did not receive notice of the meeting prior to 2 a.m. the day of the meeting and urged the district to meet Illinois State Board of Education timelines for agenda posting.

\"I didn't get a notice till 02:00,\" Mrs. Throck said, telling the board she had checked BoardDocs and could not find the agenda earlier. She asked the administration to send agenda materials in advance in future meetings.

The comment focused primarily on the district’s Capturing Kids' Hearts program. The speaker said the program’s premise is strong but questioned whether administrators and teachers completed the required preparatory training and whether a six-week pre-training sequence occurred. \"In order for this wonderful, Capturing Kids' Hearts to work, there's supposed to be training beforehand, administrators and teachers,\" she said, and asked whether building administrators had completed \"flip point practice\" schedules and other preparatory steps.

Mrs. Throck also said she could not find the Kingsway Home Health contract in the packet and asked about the student-teacher placement agreement with DePaul University. She urged Superintendent Dr. Smith to be actively involved with new administrators and to ensure required ISBE paperwork for newly hired administrators is filed.

The board did not take action on these remarks during the meeting; staff and trustees heard the questions and noted they would review agenda-distribution practices and contract documentation as part of the district’s routine follow-up.","A resident told the board she did not receive agenda materials in advance, questioned whether the district implemented Capturing Kids' Hearts training as required and asked for details on a DePaul student-teacher placement and a Kings Way Home Health contract.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6145973,"Votes at a glance: Flossmoor SD 161 board approves consent agenda, $2.4M in bills and academic goals",194,777000,971000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b&start=777&end=971","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529842-050f3dbe3d88584aabdd13a47535df9b/thumbnail_777000.jpg","/articles/6145973/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Flossmoor-SD-161-board-approves-consent-agenda-24M-in-bills-and-academic-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145973-deda876a9954f25e89806af5b548d301/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450692&Signature=Z6yCkoRFbSn0RUUa5~TaT409nDMHz4uDmvpR7vMofn27pH6SP~9sNtCawcrAq3iPd~jahx9p7ZR-HNudXq2o3n3DHsO5iKVmd2afyyhcRWAXaAyW-oB8Koz8vAGQTq-wjlx5oj1yRvYZz8airvr5Pp5Iajik2t~f9kA3CyAob7C0ZAZnN177zmRX7dXQV-nmuhANF7Q4b1X8233jEw0yZ4KYwZ4QRYp7OW5e~J1zr3usNssqNm8h-lo4Ym3LK1nrQRdx4aZliwMY0UPEe~dexfacCsB3ORqkBhY410X28AU0ptGnK73aQRLPHxSIMiTGfPVtHRJrJDZL2NruVw6oNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 4 meeting of the Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education, trustees approved the consent agenda, voted to pay the month’s bills totaling $2,401,563.23 and approved the district’s academic achievement goals and indicators as presented.

The consent agenda passed by roll call and included, among other items: personnel report 26002; Board of Education and executive session minutes; the 2025–26 parent and student handbook; building crisis plans; a student-teacher placement agreement with DePaul University; a service contract listed as Kings Way Home Health; the 2025–26 Capturing Kids' Hearts professional development contract; an outdoor education contract for the 2025–26 school year; and an excess equipment disposal request from the learning and instruction department. The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved and seconded during the meeting; the board recorded all affirmative votes and the item passed.

For the bills, a board member who reviewed the packet moved to approve payment of $2,401,563.23 in invoices for the month of August. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

The board also moved to approve the academic achievement goals and indicators as presented. That motion passed by roll call.

No roll-call tallies in the transcript recorded any \"no\" or abstain votes for these items; members recorded on the roll calls during the meeting included (as read on the record) Krauss; Pilgruss; Gilchrist; Giddens; Leinier; Ross; Childress; Blaistrom; Gregg; Lanier; and Griggs. The meeting record shows the motions carried following affirmative roll-call responses.

Details on individual contract values and the text of the Capturing Kids' Hearts and outdoor-education contracts were presented in the consent packet; specific dollar amounts for each contract were not stated aloud during the roll call recorded in the transcript.

No additional formal votes were recorded on the construction timeline or HVAC matters during the meeting; the administration said it would return recommended remediation and cost estimates to the board after forensic engineering quotes are obtained.","At the April 4 meeting the Flossmoor SD 161 Board approved a consent agenda including contracts and professional-development agreements, approved $2,401,563.23 in bills for August, and approved the district's academic achievement goals and indicators.","actionData","errors"]

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Flossmoor SD 161 pauses classroom refresh as persistent humidity, mold issues prompt forensic review

Resident raises concerns about meeting notice and Capturing Kids' Hearts training; asks about DePaul placement and Kings Way Home Health

Votes at a glance: Flossmoor SD 161 board approves consent agenda, $2.4M in bills and academic goals