Mold Discovered In Tuscaloosa County Middle School

NORTHPORT, AL — Officials with the Tuscaloosa County School System (TCSS) informed parents on Wednesday that mold had been discovered in Echols Middle School, a little more than a week before the beginning of the new school year.

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TCSS said in a message to parents that a moisture issue was discovered in the new classroom addition to the school, which is where the seventh-grade hall is located.

The first day of school for TCSS is set for Thursday, Aug. 7.

"While the timing is inconvenient, we have closed this building, so the problem can be fully and immediately corrected," TCSS officials said. "There is some visible evidence of mold in the area, largely above the ceiling. We are working with an outside environmental testing service, to fully understand and correct the root of the problem."

TCSS says it is required to follow strict state and federal guidelines, before explaining that the building has a separate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system — pointing out that no air will be circulating from this building to the rest of the school.

Teachers in this building have also reportedly been assigned to new locations and there will be no changes to schedules. However, the rooms where the classes and teachers will be physically located are changing.

"This affects mainly our seventh graders, but a few eighth grade students are impacted," TCSS said. "Echols families will receive a map through email and SchoolStatus that shows which teachers have been moved and where their new locations are. If you have one of these teachers on your schedule, the map shows the new classroom for your class with that teacher."

The county school system said students and families are invited to the school on Thursday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to locate their new classrooms.

"We know this is an unexpected change, especially right after schedule pick-up, and we are here to guide our students through this change," TCSS said. "We do not yet know a timeline for how long this project will take, but you will receive ongoing communication as we have updates. Again, we will help our students locate their new classrooms when school starts. We understand that may take them extra time to find their rooms. While the timing of this project is certainly unexpected, it is important that we fully and immediately correct this problem."

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