Mould under St. Jean school gym affects cadets

An environmental assessment has found mould in another P.E.I. school.

But this time it's forcing out air cadets who use the mould-infested basement.

An environmental assessment indicates the mould in the basement below the gym at St. Jean Elementary School in Charlottetown was caused by water.

The gym is not connected to the main area of the school, which means students won't be displaced.

The only people who used the basement are from the Air Cadets 60 Squadron, who practised marksmanship on a pellet gun shooting range.

"Although no significant impact is anticipated for the remainder of the school, the basement level should not be used for occupancy or storage of books or the like," read the environmental assessment. "Access should be limited by all and restricted to people with asthma, allergies or compromised immune systems."

The squadron had worked out a deal to stay in the location until early April to prepare for a provincial competition, but cadet command in Halifax put a stop to that plan.

"When it comes to the safety and welfare of the people that are involved in our program, we spare no expense in making sure that we take all reasonable steps to protect them," said Capt. Doug Keirstead of the Atlantic Cadet Support Unit. "And in this particular case we decided to go on the side of caution."

The cadets are now looking for a new home.

Some of the students from Spring Park Elementary were sent to St. Jean after mould was discovered in that school earlier this year.

The Eastern School District said it would be too costly to repair the building.