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Saturday, January 18, 2003

By N. Blithe Runsdorf

Moss Side Elementary School in Monroeville, closed since February because of mold, will reopen Tuesday, the school district announced yesterday.

"Our private consultant and the county Health Department notified us this morning. All the tests are good. We're good to go," said Cleveland Steward, assistant superintendent for elementary schools for Gateway School District.

Steward said air samples and surface swabs taken at the building Jan. 6 all came back negative. The district will continue to monitor the building after classes resume.

Teachers have spent the week preparing classrooms for classes to resume Tuesday. Pupils, who have been attending classes at University Park Elementary or Moss Side Middle School, recently toured the building so they would know what to expect in their new classrooms.

To celebrate, the school will hold an open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday. Parents, children and other residents can visit classrooms and walk the halls to see results of the cleanup.

It's been almost a year since the building was closed to eliminate several types of mold from ceiling and wall surfaces and mold spores from the air.

The comprehensive project included replacing the roof and air vents, replacing carpet with tile and complete interior cleaning.

The building had been scheduled to reopen in August, but after the building received storm damage, more mold was found.

"We're feeling real good about the move," said Steward. "There were some stressful moments during the year, but the cooperation among parents, teachers and staff allowed us to do what was best for the kids."

This weekend classroom furniture will be moved back to Moss Side. There is no school Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Buses will operate on a normal schedule Tuesday.