Clarendon County School District Addresses Air Quality and Maintenance Concerns at
Manning High and Manning Junior High Schools
Manning, SC – The Clarendon County School District (CCSD) is committed to maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for all students and staff, and takes all health and safety concerns with the highest priority.
Recently, concerns were raised regarding humidity and potential mold growth in two classrooms at Manning High School. In response, CCSD immediately initiated a comprehensive assessment and remediation process. Both classrooms were inspected by district staff, followed by a third-party environmental contractor. A professional contractor was hired to thoroughly clean both classrooms, removing all organic matter. Following the cleaning process, independent third-party testing was conducted to verify that air quality met safe standards for students and staff. Testing confirmed that the classrooms were safe for occupancy. The source of the humidity was identified as a faulty HVAC fan relay, which caused the fan to run continuously, drawing in excessive humidity. This relay has been repaired.
In addition, Manning High School experienced several roof leaks and gutter concerns. The district addressed these issues promptly. The photos provided showcased a deteriorated expansion joint on the roof above the 300 hallway, which has now been repaired. All reported roof leaks have been addressed by contractors. CCSD will continue to investigate and repair any future leaks as they arise.
Similar HVAC issues were identified in one classroom and a locker room at Manning Jr. High School. As with Manning High School, CCSD immediately responded. The classroom was cleaned and inspected by a third-party contractor, who confirmed that the air quality was safe. The locker room has been temporarily closed, and the HVAC system has been repaired. The district is currently obtaining quotes for professional cleaning of the locker room, followed by air quality testing to ensure student and staff safety before it is re-opened.
"The health and safety of students and staff are of the highest priority. As Director of Facilities, I want to ensure that all staff can bring concerns to my department and those concerns be addressed appropriately," stated Donald Davis, Director of Operations, Facilities, and Safety. "I also appreciate individuals from the community that share concerns that have been brought to their attention. Communication is key to identifying issues and correcting them in a timely manner."
CCSD appreciates and relies on staff members reporting any building issues, particularly those that could potentially lead to health and safety concerns which is done by reporting it directly to the building leader or using the work order link on our district website. The district's process for addressing such concerns includes immediate investigation of the reported issue by the appropriate staff (roofing, HVAC, environmental). It also includes engagement of specialized contractors for repairs (roofing contractor for leaks, HVAC technicians for HVAC issues). If an environmental issue is suspected, the district’s Facility Director will investigate the issue and a third-party environmental contractor is brought in for creating a plan to resolve the issue. Professional cleaning by a cleaning company that will bring in proper staff to resolve the issue and Post-remediation air quality testing by a third party to ensure safety before the area is reoccupied. HVAC air filters are expected to be replaced every 90 days by custodial staff for indoor returns and by maintenance staff for roof units. The grills for the returns and vents are also expected to be cleaned regularly.
Clarendon County School District remains committed to ensuring a healthy and safe learning environment for all students and staff. School leadership has recently provided updated photos confirming that the identified areas of concern have been addressed and resolved.
“We have processes and protocols set up to ensure that the safety of our employees and students are handled immediately,” stated Dr. Shawn Johnson, Superintendent. “The continuance of divisive attacks on the growth and safety of our school district, despite the positivity, will be addressed. Our focus is and will continue to be providing excellent education and facilities for our future leaders.”
We ask that the community rely on information shared directly by Clarendon County School District and its leadership to ensure accuracy and transparency.
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