Board directs staff to pursue radon mitigation at Dunlow Elementary; estimated cost ~$70,000

District facilities staff briefed the Groveport Madison Schools Board of Education on elevated radon readings at Dunlow Elementary and recommended moving forward with remediation rather than delaying until next summer.

Dave Hausman, who led the update, summarized the timeline: a single-room mitigation in July reduced that room's levels, whole-building tests were conducted in October and results came back Oct. 30 showing multiple rooms above the Ohio Department of Health's actionable level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). He told trustees the remediation plan calls for roughly nine mitigation systems, each serving 4'5 classrooms, with sealing of cracks and access points; testing and installation could be completed over about 12 days if contractors are available during the Christmas break. He estimated the mitigation cost for Dunlow at approximately $70,000 and said that figure is likely below the local public-bid threshold.

Board members pressed on health risk, timing and alternatives. One trustee asked whether radon can cause acute symptoms; the facilities lead and other board members explained that radon is not associated with immediate sickness in the way other air contaminants might be, but that state guidance is to mitigate rooms that test above 4 pCi/L. Trustees also discussed short-term measures already taken (increased fresh air through HVAC dampers, positive building pressure) and whether pursuing an HVAC replacement could offer a more durable solution; staff said new central HVAC could help long term but would likely take many months and significantly higher capital investment, whereas mitigation is a comparatively quick, targeted fix.

There was disagreement about whether to perform the second test the Ohio Department of Health recommends prior to remediation; staff and the board said their October numbers were well above 4 pCi/L and argued that immediate mitigation is justified on safety grounds and to avoid disrupting school if work can be performed over the break. A motion or formal vote to approve immediate capital expenditure was not recorded; instead trustees gave direction to proceed with mitigation planning and to solicit quotes, and asked staff to report back if the estimated cost exceeds the public-bid threshold or if additional testing changes the plan.

Next steps: facilities staff will solicit detailed quotes for mitigation work, seek to schedule installation over Christmas break if contractors and budgets permit, obtain a second confirmatory test where required by procedure, and provide the board with a cost/time update and any bid threshold implications.