Jacksonville Elementary School, closed since Aug. 19 due to mold in the building, will reopen Monday.
The district has completed cleaning of the school and repairs to crucial parts of its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District Superintendent Jeremy Owoh said in a message to families Friday.
“Jacksonville Elementary School has received the green light for our scholars and staff to safely return to the building,” Owoh wrote. “The final air-quality report has been reviewed and approved, and the three Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) units have now been repaired and prepared for normal operation.”
The school closed after tests revealed elevated mold levels in the nurse’s office, media center and a classroom.
Staff members reported additional concerns in other classrooms, and the district, after finding elevated mold levels in other areas, chose to professionally clean the entire building, Owoh said in a message to families last week.
A preliminary assessment showed that increased indoor humidity had contributed to the mold, and district leaders learned the three dedicated outdoor air system units were malfunctioning, circulating humid air into the building instead of “properly conditioned air.”
“As we have shared throughout this process, the (dedicated outdoor air system) units are an important component of the school’s HVAC system. They bring fresh outdoor air into the building while helping regulate ventilation and remove excess moisture from that air before it enters occupied spaces,” Owoh said in his message Friday. “During periods of extreme heat and high humidity, these systems are required to work especially hard to maintain appropriate indoor conditions.”
Central Arkansas recently experienced a stretch of moer than a week with daytime high temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.
Jacksonville Elementary School is at 2400 Linda Lane. The $18.5 million school opened in January 2022. The school’s 2025-26 student enrollment was 687, according to state data.
Owoh said in his Friday message that, although Jacksonville Elementary School is only around five years old, “newer mechanical equipment is not immune from component failure.” The long stretches of heat and high humidity “placed additional demands on these systems.”
He thanked families and staff. “Your patience, flexibility, questions, and support throughout this process have been greatly appreciated,” Owoh said. “We look forward to welcoming our scholars and staff back to Jacksonville Elementary School on Monday, Aug. 31, ready for a fresh start and another great week of learning.”