To avoid disruption of the learning process, and out of an abundance of caution, officials with the NC Environmental Health & Safety Institute (EHSI) have advised Southwestern Community College and Jackson County Public Schools to relocate Jackson County Early College students, faculty and staff from their building located on Southwestern’s Jackson Campus.
Starting Thursday (Oct. 17), all JCEC operations, students and personnel transitioned to the Balsam Center on our Jackson Campus. Students, their parents and all JCEC employees were notified Wednesday afternoon of the location change by Jackson County Public Schools.
Moisture issues led school personnel to reach out to EHSI. After a visual inspection, Allen McCullough of EHSI conducted air monitoring including mold-sampling.
McCullough asked officials to vacate all students and personnel from the building to allow additional measures to be determined and implemented.
“Based on my visual inspection, there are water-intrusion issues related to the structural integrity of the building,” McCullough said. “Water is coming up through the foundation and wicking into the sheetrock. There is a definite need for repair and restoration, and there may also be a need for remediation - depending on what the lab results tell us.”
McCullough said he does not yet have a timeline for when students and personnel can return to the JCEC Building. As soon as that information becomes available, it will be shared with parents and the public.
McCullough will conduct a follow-up inspection with additional air sampling, if needed, following the completion of any repairs deemed necessary by a structural engineer. That would potentially clear the way for personnel and students to return to the JCEC building.
