The 2025-2026 school year was about to start. August 27 was just a few days away when Barnstable High School got bad news: the 1600’s hallway was closed. No explanation was initially given to the student body or staff. Several teachers were displaced right as school started. The hallway was sealed off on both ends with warning signs and barriers blocking the entrance. The 1600s reopened on September 10, after being on lockdown for two weeks. Every classroom but 1601 is open to students and staff. The hallway was sealed off on both ends with warning signs and barriers blocking the entrance.
Jason Conetta, the Barnstable High School principal, told the school community “It’s mold.” After tests were complete it was reported that there were no mold spores in the air and the air quality was safe for all. The issue came when surface mold began to grow on walls and corkboards. “Combine a hot and humid summer with classrooms that are attached to both courtyards and a broken air vent, mold is bound to emerge”, said Conetta. The treatment company EnviroMed, came back to not only clean the hallway, but to also perform more tests. Last year a team from EnviroMed came through the school in the spring with devices checking the air quality in all classrooms, as well as offices and even the locker rooms.
Teachers in the 1600s were told the Friday before school started that the 1600s needed more cleaning. Teachers had to quickly adapt to different classrooms and even cafeterias. Tina Obrien was one of the teachers who had adapted to the room changes. “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to go back to my room.” Teachers didn’t know what day they were moving back and neither did Mr. Conetta. He was waiting for Enviromed to send back test results. “You want to trust the people behind the scenes but it’s frustrating,” was the sentiment of Matthew Gaitane. He tells us that his things are moved and his room is cleaned everyday. Ronel Padilla, a freshman, enjoyed being in the cafeteria but he worried about his safety, “ If something happened there is nowhere to really hide in the cafeteria.”
The hallway is left with a musty smell and a level of uncertainty among those who reside in the classrooms. Averie Thomas, a freshman, is worried for her health and so is Gaitane and Obrien. Conetta as well as EnviroMed assure us the issue has been treated. There is no risk to being in any of the classrooms.
Superintendent Sara Ahern wrote in her district newsletter that Enviromed would be coming into Barnstable schools quarterly to perform tests and inspections. The district has an active website that publishes information and updates about the treatment and steps to being taken. Last year BUES had such a bad issue with mold, school was delayed to start after labor day. They were recently approved for $3 million for new ventilation systems. BCIS also had certain classrooms closed for the detection of mold.
Conetta said he is working to fix issues the teachers have presented to him, such as broken air conditioning in the environmental lab not working. He said “We have identified areas that need work, process and procedures.”
