District repairs humidity issues at BFHS

BONNERS FERRY — Repairs at Bonners Ferry High School have commenced to deal with a humidity issue in the building.

The main concern is that mold starts growing when humidity is above 50 percent. No mold has been found, but recent humidity increases in the building have created an environment for mold to grow.

So far, the plan is to increase air flow and seal the floor where moisture gathers and monitor with humidity and mold indicators.

“We’re taking precautions,” said Bob Overman, the supervisor of the school district maintenance department.

According to Tim Gering, the high school principal, Overman has been the backbone in dealing with these repairs.

John Holdeman of North Idaho Insulation who will be doing the work on the humidity issues, says the problem is very fixable. He says this is not a problem with equipment; the high school has excellent equipment set up in the building. Minor repairs will take care of most of it, which fall under standard building maintenance.

Examples of a few signs are water stains in the auditorium, in the ceiling tiles and on floors of a few classrooms. Cracks have appeared in the auditorium walls since it was built due to building movement.

These have since been sealed. Ceiling tiles have been replaced and the carpet in the band room has been removed with VCT tiling put in instead. All the remaining carpets will be treated with an ozone blaster which kills mold. After the ozone blaster, Holdeman will bring in a HEPA filter and run it to filter the air.

“We want to make sure we cover all the bases,” said Overman.

According to Gary Plfueger, the school district superintendent, there will be some changes as preventative measures as well, for example, how the floors are cleaned.

Meanwhile, the janitorial crew has done all they can to speed along the process.

“We cleaned as best as we could in the attic chambers, the mezzanine upstairs. We’re going to paint, seal, and use stain remover upstairs,” said Overman, “We’re taking every precaution possible.”

“Bob and the crew have been working like crazy to the do the best they can,” said Gering.

All heating and cooling units will be turned off while Holdeman does the painting and sealing and everything will be shut off while he completes the fogging. Holdeman will then monitor for three months and see how humidity runs. If it spikes, he plans on installing humidifiers.

The high school is cleared out and closed and will reopen on Aug. 10.