(Texas Scorecard) – Plano Independent School District is closing Murphy Middle School for more mold mitigation less than two weeks after telling families that the school posed “no health concerns” related to mold.
In an email sent Friday night at 11:10 p.m., Principal Tramy Tran told Murphy families that the school building would be closed from Monday, October 6, through Friday, October 10, while the district conducts “enhanced mitigation efforts in response to the ongoing environmental concern previously communicated.”
Tran’s previous communication, sent September 23, marked the first time district administrators publicly addressed mold concerns raised by Murphy families and staff since the school opened for the year in mid-August.
Throughout August and September, students complained of bad smells in classrooms, and several teachers were out sick due to possible mold-related illnesses.
Tran acknowledged that air quality and potential black mold became concerns over the summer due to “humidity in the building that produced a musty smell.” However, parents and staff were not made aware of the potential health hazards at that time.
An August 11 back-to-school social media post showed Murphy teachers and staff on campus and stated “Classrooms ready.”
Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill told a concerned Murphy mom in September that teachers had reported the mold but assured her the district had “fixed” it.
Tran’s public acknowledgement on September 23 stated that a “limited” mold inspection had concluded the air quality inside the school was “well within acceptable range and presents no health concerns.”
Parents and teachers remained skeptical. They questioned whether the inspection described in a September 4 “Limited Environment Mold Assessment Report” provided to the district by ERC Environmental and Construction Services adequately assessed the issues.
A third-party professional review of ERC’s mold assessment dated September 11 concluded that additional testing was warranted.
Ten days after telling families their concerns had been addressed, Tran stated Friday that a second inspection had “identified additional areas requiring remediation.”
The “additional mitigation” will include replacing carpet, cleaning HVAC ductwork, resealing windows, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and adding [de]humidifiers and air purifiers throughout the building.
Parents spotted a fleet of service trucks outside the school over the weekend, including for HVAC company LSI and BMS CAT water and mold remediation.
“A lot of trucks up there if nothing is truly wrong,” posted a parent on social media.
Tran said that after remediation, additional air quality tests will be performed before students and staff return to campus, and further updates will be provided.
All Plano ISD schools will be closed October 13-15 for Fall Break. October 16-17 are also student holidays, while staff are scheduled to work.
Tran added that “learning opportunities” will resume on Tuesday, October 7, through an “alternate learning plan” to be shared with parents on Monday. Some parents are considering alternatives to returning their students to Murphy.
Plano ISD school board trustees are meeting on October 7, but parents won’t be able to raise concerns about mold at Murphy, as it’s not on the agenda.
In August, trustees voted 5-2 to limit public comments at board meetings to agenda items only.
Concerned families can contact trustees or district administrators directly.