Consultants find no airborne toxigenic mold in Barnstable schools; recommend spot checks, targeted cleaning and HVAC review

EnviroMed, the consulting firm the district hired to test indoor air quality, told the Barnstable School Committee on June 4 that its inspections found no airborne toxigenic mold or evidence of airborne mold amplification across the district’s nine schools.

The finding follows a four‑month evaluation in which EnviroMed staff collected 236 air samples and 102 surface samples and logged a total of 528 inspection hours. "There was no airborne toxigenic mold in any of the 9 schools, in any of the samples collected," EnviroMed CEO Larry Cannon said during the committee meeting.

That lede addresses the most immediate community concern: whether airborne, highly hazardous mold was present. The consultants said the air metrics they measured — temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and particulates — were within commonly used guidance ranges. Where EnviroMed did find mold, it was primarily on surfaces and not suspended in the air, the firm said.

EnviroMed outlined what it called a layered response. Recommendations discussed at the meeting include: targeted cleaning or professional remediation of identified surface contamination; post‑cleaning verification testing (clearance testing) so custodial staff and vendors confirm no detectable mold remains on surfaces; routine monthly spot checks for each school (with more frequent summer surveillance in high‑humidity months); districtwide training for custodial, facilities, faculty and administrators on moisture control and reporting; and longer‑term mechanical/HVAC engineering assessments tied to the district’s capital improvement plans.

"Part of what we like to stress is that when mold is seen that it be cleaned up quickly," Cannon said, adding that good filter replacement schedules and active HVAC maintenance probably contributed to the generally favorable air results. He also recommended using air scrubbers when doing cleanup work to limit airborne particulates during remediation.

Superintendent Dr. Sarah Hearn introduced the report and said the district would publish the final drafts of EnviroMed’s school‑by‑school reports and the presentation online once they are complete. EnviroMed said draft reports were in final review and will include sample locations, laboratory results, a photo journal, and clear recommendations for each building.

Committee members asked practical follow‑ups. Several members pressed about the summer at Barnstable United Elementary School (BUES), where last summer’s problems had been acute; Cannon advised keeping HVAC systems operating with appropriate air changes and careful set points while a building is unoccupied to avoid rapid humidity buildup. The firm also suggested an HVAC engineering review to prioritize capital improvements.

There was no formal vote tied to the EnviroMed presentation. The committee received the report, requested posting of the final reports and asked staff to continue working with EnviroMed on training and an IAQ web page for the district.

The consultants noted some localized findings that the district should address: occasional rooms with elevated VOCs (often linked to air fresheners or products), elevated afternoon CO2 levels in occupied rooms (a ventilation indicator), and a small number of surface samples that laboratory analysis confirmed as mold. EnviroMed recommended that most surface issues under 10 square feet be cleaned by district custodial staff using EPA‑registered disinfectants and that larger or porous‑material issues be handled by a licensed remediator with post‑clearance testing.

The presentation included a proposal for a monthly IAQ surveillance program and an IAQ training curriculum for staff, aimed at clarifying when to report moisture, how to document conditions, and how to take initial mitigation steps. EnviroMed will also collaborate with district staff on a public web page with FAQs and submission instructions for suspected mold or IAQ problems.

District officials said they will continue to coordinate prioritized HVAC work with the town’s capital planning to address long‑term ventilation and envelope improvements.

EnviroMed’s report and the district’s response are expected to be posted publicly when the final drafts are released.