Del Sur Elementary is delaying the first day of school after several classrooms were determined to have mold, the school announced Wednesday. At least five classrooms were determined to have “moderately elevated levels” of mold, and four classrooms were found to have “elevated levels” of mold, the school stated on its website. The ranking determines the probability the mold spores are generating inside the building. The Poway Unified School District school was scheduled to start on Thursday, but based on the results, it’s delaying its start until Tuesday, Aug. 18, or Wednesday, Aug. 19. This also includes the Extended Student Services (ESS) and preschool programs. “During preparations for the new school year, moisture-related concerns were identified in several classrooms at Del Sur Elementary. District teams have been working with third-party environmental professionals to address the situation,” the school said on its website. “Delaying the start of school is the most responsible course of action and will allow us the time needed to appropriately address the affected classrooms.” The classrooms are being cleaned along with the ductwork. Air scrubbers and HEPA filtration and dehumidification are also being installed in all classrooms, the school said. SkyRanger 7 was over the school Wednesday, where it showed a restoration company on site. Re-testing of the classrooms will take place on Saturday, with results expected Sunday or Monday, the district said. “Classrooms will not be returned to normal use until the District has received the independent hygienist’s evaluation confirming that the identified issues have been appropriately addressed,” the school said. “In addition, humidity-monitoring devices will be installed in every classroom so conditions can be monitored in real time, and the district will continue evaluating the broader campus conditions to identify and address any underlying causes.” The school said the last time the rooms were occupied was over the summer, but no concerns were reported in the classroom, and said the moisture concerns developed after the program was done. Some parents were upset because they say this happened previously, in 2024. “My son was tested for mold and it came back positive… related to building material,” Karyn told NBC 7. After Kristen Montan’s daughter tested positive for mold, she reached out to other parents on social media by creating a Facebook page that is once again regaining popularity in light of the most recent mold findings. “I took to Facebook pretty quickly after that asking for people to please reach out to our district, especially the superintendent, and make them aware of what is going on at Del Sur.” This year, parents are nervous and concerned what their children could be exposed to when school resumes. They are urging the district for transparency. “I just hope they can hear us. We’re pleading for help, for the school to work with us. To transfer kids until it’s safe to have our kids back and our teachers and I encourage every parent that is experiencing similar symptoms to come out and to use their voice.” Parents can visit the FAQ page on the school’s website for more information. Del Sur Elementary School opened in August of 2008 and is part of Poway Unified School District. It serves 946 students. ...read more read less