At a meeting of the Beaufort County Schools’ building, grounds and finance committee Monday, committee members discussed the dollars and cents behind mold testing and abatement at local schools.
Patrick Abele, Beaufort County Schools’ executive director of auxiliary services, said the average cost of abatement could run anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per room.
Abele shared a few of the ways his department has cut the costs of identifying and testing for mold.
“The average cost for one sample to be analyzed is about $50,” Abele said.
That’s a far cry from calling in abatement professionals. At Northside High School, where spots that appeared to be mold turned out to be glue, Abele saved thousands by not jumping to conclusions and calling in abatement experts.
We would like to commend Abele and his department for their efforts in keeping costs down by acquiring valuable skills that will undoubtedly be put to use for years to come.
With an ever-shrinking budget, Beaufort County Schools continues to find ways of cutting costs without sacrificing the safety and health of students.