Mold Found in Tuscaloosa County Elementary School Cafeteria

Renovations are underway at a Tuscaloosa County elementary school's cafeteria where a moisture problem has led to mold, though administrators say it is isolated to the seating area and not a health risk.

The issue will have students at Englewood Elementary will eating breakfast and lunch in their classrooms for months to come.

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In a message to parents on the school website, principal Tameka Rice and superintendent Keri Johnson said in the late summer, school staff discovered an issue that led to moisture buildup in the lunchroom seating area.

"We have worked with an outside environmental testing service, to make sure the problem is contained to just this one area," their statement said. "Tests did confirm the presence of mold in the lunchroom seating area, confined only to this one part of our school."

They say testing shows it's still safe to prepare food in the kitchen of the school.

"The kitchen was thoroughly inspected. Tests confirmed that the kitchen and other areas of the school were not affected by the moisture, and there is not a health and safety risk to students or staff," they wrote. "Students will eat in their classrooms to start this school year. Meals will still be prepared in the kitchen, as this area is not affected by the moisture problem. Meals will be delivered to students in their classroom. We do not yet know a timeline for the renovation, but we expect it will take at least a few months."

Their statement said they regret the timing of the problem and having to start a renovation project during the first week of classes this academic year, but also pledged to keep parents in the loop about the process and asked for their patience in the months ahead.

Terri Brewer, a spokesperson for the school system, provided additional context Friday afternoon.

"The moisture issues at Englewood are contained to the seating area of the lunchroom. That portion of the school has a completely separate HVAC system, so there is no air circulating from the lunchroom to the rest of the school," Brewer said. " Also, the area of concern has been encapsulated by an environmental safety company to ensure that there is no air circulating outside of it while it is being renovated. The entire seating area of the lunchroom will be receiving a complete renovation so that we can make sure this is never an issue again. We are also required to follow very strict state and federal guidelines to ensure safety as well."

She said students were served grab-and-go, prepackaged food as classes resumed this week with a better solution in the works.

"With this renovation beginning so close to the start of school, grab and go type meals were provided yesterday to students in their classrooms," Brewer said. "Our facilities and child nutrition departments are working on logistics to where students will be able to access the kitchen (without going through the dining room) to pick up their meals and take them to their classroom. Families at Englewood will continue receiving updates on procedures for students picking up their meals and the construction process."

Mold Found in Tuscaloosa County’s Englewood Elementary School Cafeteria, But Not Kitchen

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