Board approves emergency contract for Warren Elementary mold remediation

The Francis Howell R-III Board of Education on July 15 approved a contract with remediation vendor 1st On-site to address mold discovered at Warren Elementary, authorizing immediate work with a targeted completion date of Aug. 4, 2026.

Superintendent Mark Delaney told the board that air scrubbers and dehumidifiers were deployed after district staff identified mold and that administration solicited three bids before recommending 1st On-site as “the low cost responsible bidder.” He said the district invited an environmental consultant from Pynchon and a remediation staff member to the July 16 board meeting so they could answer testing- and remediation-related questions.

The move came during an emergency session called after the district received RFPs the night before. "We received the RFPs yesterday evening," Delaney said, adding that the board called the meeting so the selected vendor could be on-site the next day and minimize disruption to students and staff. He cautioned that an Aug. 4 date is a target and agreed that costs could rise if unexpected conditions are found.

Board members pressed for details about asbestos testing and the invasiveness of the work. Dan Allison, who reviewed construction records, said the building dates to a period when asbestos-containing materials were not typically used and that contract language requires additional validation if work becomes invasive. "This project, it's not gonna be very invasive. I don't think they're gonna need that information because they are not it's not invasive... It's basically cleaning," Allison said.

Director Jason Adams asked whether the vendor had been vetted. Delaney responded that 1st On-site is an insurance-preferred vendor and that the district has worked with the company before. On communications, Delaney said the district had sent notices to all Warren families and that Principal Megan Beckham had notified staff.

On access, Delaney said no one would be allowed into the building while remediation work is under way and that Pynchon will perform air-quality testing to confirm the environment is safe before staff or students return. The superintendent said the district is coordinating with insurers and would review capital allocations as needed; he noted the district is deficit spending this year but has reserves.

When the board voted, the presiding officer said the motion to approve the contract passed; no opposition was recorded on the public audio. The board then adjourned the special meeting.

Next steps: 1st On-site is expected to begin work immediately and Pynchon will perform clearance testing; both will appear at the July 16 board meeting to answer questions and review testing protocols.