Most students at WAHS have seen the sign on Mrs. Bryson’s classroom, quarantining it and sending all classes to the middle school conference room.  However, not everyone knows that a suspected mold infestation is the reason for the closing.

            Mrs. Bryson and Mr. Brush, who teaches driver's education in the room, discovered the problem on Wednesday, April 8, when they noticed a smell in the room.

American Government teacher Mrs. Bryson opened the windows, sprayed air fresheners, lit candles and cleaned everything with Clorox wipes, but nothing seemed to work.  When the students returned to school after Easter Break, the odor was still present.

“It smelled like old wet towels,” says Mrs. Bryson.  “Mr. Brush said, ‘I have a really good nose, and you have a severe mold problem.  You should get this checked out.’”

            Administrators Mr. Jewell and Dr. Nicksick as well as the head custodian were contacted, and an outside agency tested for mold.  Classes have been relocated until the problem is resolved.

            “I have been limited as to what I can include in my lesson plans because I don’t have a Promethean board or a projector,” Mrs. Bryson says.  “Instead we started a project that uses the mobile lab.”

            While Mrs. Bryson waits for results from the mold testing, she has tried to combat other possible sources of the smell.

            “The custodian suggested that the odor might be coming from overwatering my plants,” she says.  “I took them all home, but so far it has not improved.”

            Some students believe that the possibility of mold in other areas in the school should be examined.

            “I think it is absolutely vital that they investigate further,” says Government student Tim Kaminske.