Mold concerns keep Iredell County elementary school closed through week’s end

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - An Iredell County elementary school that initially closed through Wednesday for a “comprehensive cleaning” amid mold and air quality concerns will now remain closed through Friday.

Students at Coddle Creek Elementary in Mooresville will participate in online learning Thursday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Nov. 13, “after receiving feedback from [the] school community,” according to Iredell-Statesville Schools.

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Jada Jonas, the district’s public information officer, said school leaders decided to continue cleaning and wait for test results before bringing students back to campus, following community feedback.

“We will continue to keep you informed as testing results become available and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff,” Jonas said.

District officials expect Coddle Creek to reopen on Monday, Nov. 16.

Air quality concerns at Coddle Creek

Since August, the district has been working with HVAC professionals to evaluate conditions at the school, address moisture and humidity concerns, complete additional cleaning, and conduct multiple rounds of indoor air quality testing.

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Recent testing showed more work was needed, prompting officials to arrange professional cleaning of the air ducts and air handlers while the building was unoccupied.

Broken units were the primary issue

Officials cited broken HVAC units across the school as the primary issue, emphasizing that air tests alone cannot determine whether a building is safe or if anyone’s health was affected:

• How testing works: Indoor spore counts are compared directly against outdoor air samples taken at the same time.
• What “elevated” means: An area is considered “elevated” only if indoor counts exceed the outdoor baseline.
• Not a health threshold: Officials stressed that “elevated” is not a health standard, meaning a low spore count could still be labeled elevated depending on outdoor air quality that day.

“We understand that families want answers and, most importantly, confidence in their children’s school environment,” a spokesperson said. “We are committed to addressing these concerns, taking appropriate action, and keeping families informed throughout this process, which will include ongoing monitoring for the remainder of the school year, even after remediation is completed.”