Mould-infested schools need big fix

Public works officials on P.E.I. say they will have to "take the exterior walls apart" to fix two mould-infested schools and don't know whether the work will be done in time for the new school year in September.

Spring Park Elementary in Charlottetown and Morell Consolidated in the village of Morell have been closed since early January.

Public works officials met Thursday with engineers from Coles Associates and education officials to discuss what will need to be done to both buildings.

Foster Millar, an engineer with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, told CBC News the plan is still to repair the existing buildings. He said over the years the exterior walls have been allowing water to get in through the brick and contributing to the growth of mould.

"So it's a matter of now finalizing the cost estimates of what it will take to, in essence, take the exterior walls apart and put on a new modern, water-proofing membrane inside the wall and then put everything back together again," he said.

Millar said the cost won't be known for a few weeks, but that the numbers will be released at that time. If the work is given the go-ahead tenders will likely go out in May with construction taking place through the summer.

After the work is done the schools will still have to be thoroughly cleaned and tested before students can return.