Mould-struck school running out of space

Bluefield High School in central P.E.I. has had to shut down a section of the school due to mould contamination in two classrooms. The principal says the school is running out of space.

"We have taken over part of the library. They are in a biology lab and a physics lab and we've taken over resource so. If we end up losing anymore than another two then we're going to be in the cafeteria and some wide open spaces," principal Jerry Coady told CBC News Wednesday.

The school shut down two classrooms last week when mould was found in them. The other three were closed Tuesday to allow a contractor to tear the brick facing off the front of the building to try to determine where water is getting in.

"With 800 people in the building we're full anyway," said Coady.

"It will be tight but we'll have to kind of see what the next couple of days and couple of weeks bring."

Coady said the level of mould found in the two classrooms was quite low and in an isolated area.

Not a 'major problem'

Foster Miller of the Department of Infrastructure Renewal does not believe it will be necessary to close the school.

"Based on the visual inspection that was done and the feedback we have received to date from the inspection team, we don't believe there is a major problem at Bluefield," said Miller.

"There is certainly one or two areas where there is some water leaking into the building. And what we're doing is we're going to, in essence, open up the wall system from the outside so that we can see what's happening between the brick and the concrete block."

Bluefield is the fourth school on the Island struck by mould problems. Elm Street School in Summerside was shut down entirely in October. Students are now taking classes in other schools while repairs are made. Two elementary schools in the Eastern School District Morell Consolidated and Spring Park in Charlottetown were closed on Jan. 7 due to mould contamination. Those students are still out of school, but are expected to return to classes in alternate locations Thursday.

School officials are hoping those two schools can be reopened in September. A date for a return to Elm Street School is being hoped for in February.