Delta Kelly Elementary School in Rochester will stay closed though the holiday weekend after mold was found in the building, district officials said in a social media post.
The Rochester Community School District said in a Facebook post that information regarding the mold was shared with parents Tuesday, Aug. 26, and, out of abundance of caution, the district will close the school through the Sep. 2 for additional testing.
“Preliminary test results showed no evidence of airborne stachybotrys/memnoniella, which is commonly known as black mold, in classroom 14 or any other tested area,” the post from RCS reads.
The mold discovery at Rochester schools was the second incident to impact a southeast Michigan school district this week. Saline Area Schools delayed the start of classes at its middle school because of mold issues.
The Rochester district said it has contracted 360 Fire & Flood, a mold remediation expert, to tackle the problem.
RCS also contracted Nova Environmental to collect follow-up samples and test for concentrations of mold and fungal air throughout the building.
“As an extra precaution, RCS contracted Nova Environmental to collect follow-up samples and test for concentrations of mold and fungal air throughout the building. Samples from nine indoor spaces and one outdoor area were collected and tested on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025,” the district said.
The district says it is replacing all air filters in the elementary school and will continue to operate air purifiers throughout the building. Additionally, the classroom has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to remove any potential mold spores and prevent future growth.
What happened at Saline Area Schools?
The first day of classes was delayed because of mold, district officials said.
“Six of our seven school buildings welcomed students for the scheduled first day of school this week. I regret that the same ‘first day’ excitement was delayed for our students at Saline Middle School (SMS) due to the remediation of mold discovered in the building,” Superintendent Rachel Kowalski said in a letter on the district website.
The middle school was slated to return to class Thursday, Aug. 28, after the remediation.
“The Middle School is currently open to teachers and staff. The Saline Area Senior Center is also open, and extracurricular activities are able to continue in the building. SMS staff and families have received regular updates on this topic, which are posted on our District website,” Kowalski added.
Kowalski said the issue was found on Aug. 11.
“We became aware of a problem with the building HVAC system involving vents that had broken and remained open. This caused ductwork to condensate and fill with water, which in turn increased the humidity in the building, exacerbating an already humid summer. We consulted with professionals immediately to help resolve the issue, who were on site by Aug. 12. Due to delays in obtaining parts and skilled labor, the system was fully repaired on Thursday, Aug. 21,” Kowalski said.
Nova Environmental identified Stachybotrys/memnoniella in one air sample from the orchestra room and in two surface samples in other locations. Later tests, after cleaning, showed no mold issues, the statement said.
What is black mold? Why officials are concerned?
Black mold is a fungus that grows and spreads on materials, including paper products, wood products and drywall, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
If you have a weakened immune system, exposure to black mold can cause a fungal infection (mycosis) in your airways or other parts of your body, making you sick.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rochester, Saline schools battle mold at start of year. What’s happening