Lake Forest High School closed second-floor west wing classrooms after preliminary testing found elevated mold spore levels in the corridor.
Principal Erin Lenart announced the findings and a remediation plan in a Wednesday, Sept. 16 community update, one day after advocacy group Parents Care emailed District 115 leadership with photographs and questions from concerned families.
An independent environmental engineering firm conducted the assessment and testing, according to the update. Lenart attributed the moisture to recent heat, humidity and condensation tied to an aging HVAC system. She said many of the affected spaces were already scheduled for Phase 2 renovation under the district's $105.7 million facilities bond, which voters approved in April 2023.
What the district committed to
The district's announced response covers four areas:
- Closures and relocation. Affected classrooms and nearby spaces will remain closed while students and staff move to other rooms.
- Remediation. Ceiling tiles, drywall, pipes and other materials will be removed, replaced or cleaned as needed.
- Moisture controls. Ventilation inspections, pipe insulation and air purifiers will be added.
- Clearance before return. Students and staff will not go back until environmental professionals complete further testing and give clearance.
The district also pledged quarterly indoor air quality assessments and new training for custodial and maintenance staff on spotting moisture and mold.
Additional test results were expected early the week of Sept. 22. The district had not published those results or a reopening timeline by Friday, Sept. 18.
How the issue surfaced
Several parents shared a Facebook post with Parents Care describing apparent water damage and suspected mold, along with photographs of ceiling discoloration. One parent reported raising concerns at the school's open house. Students were temporarily relocated but returned two school days later without the parent receiving confirmation of what remediation had occurred, according to Parents Care.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Parents Care Executive Director Frank McCormick emailed board Vice President Anne Geraghty Helms, copying Superintendent Matthew Montgomery and Facilities Director Dan Mortensen. McCormick asked when the problem was first identified, what inspections found, what justified returning students and what work remained.
Parents Care requested a response by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The update landed on deadline.
Open questions
Parents Care noted that the Sept. 16 update did not establish when moisture conditions were first identified, what interim measures were in place while renovations were pending, or what information affected families and employees received before students returned to the classroom.
The group said the update gives families and taxpayers a plan to measure future actions against, but called interim maintenance and monitoring essential given the phased renovation schedule.
Parents Care said it will continue tracking the remediation, reopening decisions and independent monitoring, and will share verified information with the community.
The district's referendum page lists HVAC work among the capital needs the $105.7 million bond is meant to address. No date for a District 115 board meeting where the mold issue could be discussed has been confirmed.
