TAMPA, Fla. — The searing summer heat and the start of a new school year always comes with growing pains.
Students at Plant High School in Tampa will not have their auditorium available on the first day. A few weeks ago officials said they noticed mold.
The mold is not the toxic black mold that strikes fear into businesses and homeowners across the country. But the school district is taking extra precautions to make sure everyone is safe.
“We’ve had cleaning crews in place working yesterday and today making sure that building is going to be safe for students,” Grayson Kamm said. “We have a contractor that is going to clean the curtains, seats, the carpet and everything, and at that point, we do an air quality test.”
Kamm believes the mold formed after an issue with one of their air conditions units.
“The temperature was fine, but the humidity was high,” Kamm said.
The mold should not have much if any impact on the first day of class. Parents said they are pleased with how the district has handled the situation.
“I got a couple of letters from the Hillsborough County school board that they are looking into it taking all the precautions necessary so I’m not too worried about it,” Lyndsey Laurie said. “Stuff happens, it’s Florida. There is a lot of humidity and a lot of moisture. So, I’m fairly confident they’ll take care of it.”
The gym is also in dire need of new air conditioning units. The system failed earlier this week. A temporary fix is in place pumping cold air into the gym from mobile A/C units.
Officials expect to have the auditorium open by next week.
