August 13, 2025

Explorer Academy Postpones Start Date Due to Mold Concerns

News Summary

Explorer Academy in Cabell County has postponed its first day of classes to address a mold issue discovered within the school. The decision, made in response to safety concerns for students and staff, comes after air quality tests revealed the presence of common outdoor mold spores. While school closure affects classes and kindergarten orientation, an Open House will still be held in unaffected areas. Cabell County Schools is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment by engaging professionals for thorough cleaning and retesting.

Cabell County, West Virginia – Explorer Academy, a Pre-K through 5th grade school located in Cabell County, has announced the postponement of its first day of classes, originally set for Wednesday, August 12, 2025. This decision follows the discovery of possible mold within the school that raised safety concerns among officials and parents alike.

Officials were alerted to the potential mold issue last Wednesday, prompting immediate action to assess the air quality within the building. A mold remediation company conducted air quality tests on Thursday, expediting the samples for faster laboratory analysis. The results indicated the presence of two common outdoor mold spores, Penicillium and Cladosporium.

In light of these findings, although the remediation company recommended using foggers in the affected rooms, school officials opted to close Explorer Academy entirely to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff. Along with the cancellation of the first day of school, the kindergarten orientation event has also been delayed. The new date for both the first day of classes and kindergarten orientation will be determined and communicated as soon as possible.

Despite the school closure, an Open House event scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday evening will still take place, with access managed through an entry and exit point in an area of the building that has not been impacted by the mold.

To ensure that students and staff can return safely to the school, Cabell County Schools (CCS) will engage professionals to perform thorough cleaning and retesting of all areas affected by the mold. Principal Ryan McKenzie will provide guidance to staff regarding their assignments during this closure to ensure educational continuity.

CCS has committed to closely monitoring the situation and will keep the community informed with regular updates until the mold issue is completely resolved. The school district places a high priority on maintaining a safe learning environment for all students, and every effort will be made to address the concerns raised by the discovery of mold in the facility.

Before the announcement of this school delay, Explorer Academy had prepared for the upcoming academic year with expectations of an engaging learning environment for its student body. The current delay marks an unexpected setback, but CCS reaffirms its dedication to addressing the health concerns promptly to minimize disruption to the educational experience.

As the situation develops, parents, guardians, and community members will receive updates to stay informed about when Explorer Academy will reopen for classes. The district encourages continued communication and reassures families that their children’s safety remains of paramount importance during this time.