Poway Unified Closes Del Sur Elementary Over Mold
The San Diego school district shuttered the campus in August 2026 after inspectors found mold spores in multiple classrooms.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Asthma
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Del Sur Elementary School remains closed following the discovery of mold spores within classrooms and HVAC systems. Students have been relocated to Stone Ranch Elementary School for the duration of the school year.
Why it matters
The closure follows years of unresolved maintenance concerns at the San Diego campus. Exposure to indoor mold can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, necessitating the district's intervention.
The Poway Unified School District has spent $766,000 on mold remediation and related costs since July 2026. This figure tracks ongoing efforts to clean HVAC systems and classrooms identified through inspections.
The players
Poway Unified School District
This public school district serves students in parts of San Diego County and is responsible for campus maintenance and safety.
Del Sur Elementary School
This is a public primary school that was shuttered due to environmental health concerns.
Stone Ranch Elementary School
This facility is currently housing displaced students from the neighboring campus.
The details
Maintenance records from 2023 show that staff frequently reported leaking units and musty odors, yet systemic issues persisted until thermal cameras were used in 2024 to pinpoint the contamination. Remediation efforts involved crews using protective equipment to scrub HVAC vents and classrooms.
Timeline
Staff reported HVAC system complaints throughout 2023.
Workers utilized thermal cameras to identify mold within classrooms in 2024.
The district began tracking remediation costs in July 2026.
The district closed the school in August 2026.
The district plans to reopen the school by January 2027.
Health Landscape
The district's remediation efforts follow a broader trend of school systems struggling to meet the 2023 ASHRAE indoor air quality standards for school ventilation. These efforts reflect a shift toward stricter environmental health oversight in aging campus facilities.
For parents, the closure necessitates daily transit changes and impacts local school routines for the remainder of the year. Students with respiratory sensitivities should monitor their health as they transition to the temporary facility at Stone Ranch Elementary.
The takeaway
Maintaining HVAC integrity remains a critical priority for public health in educational settings. Regular inspections and rapid responses to maintenance complaints are essential to preventing long-term environmental hazards.
What happens next
The Poway Unified School District aims to complete necessary repairs and reopen the Del Sur Elementary School campus by January 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about environmental health triggers in Asthma.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV.
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