Some Dover-area elementary school students were told to stay home on Monday and Tuesday to let their classrooms air out.

"My son is home watching 'Peter Pan' on the TV," said Scott Conklin, whose son attends Wingdale Elementary School.

Conklin said he had no problem with a message sent from Dover Union Free School District Superintendent Michael Tierney on Sunday evening, informing parents that part of Dover Elementary had been sealed off from the rest of the school and all of Wingdale Elementary had to be closed, due to an inspection that found mold at both schools.

Tierney wrote that the district's director of buildings and grounds "found evidence of mold under a number of desks, tables and other furniture, such as bookcases."

Tierney said that reports of mold at other area schools led him to request mold inspections at all elementary school buildings.

Conklin said he completely understands the abundance of caution taken by the district, and that even Conklin himself was doing some mold remediation of his own at the J.H. Ketcham Hose Company, where he serves as a volunteer firefighter.

"We've had mold here too. That's why I've had the door open," he said. "It's been a very hot, humid summer, and I think that attributed a lot to the issues that we've had both at Wingdale Elementary and Dover Elementary schools."

Administrators said on Tuesday they are following all EPA guidelines to the letter.

Dover Elementary remains open, with the exception of two classroom and a storage room that must be cleaned and reinspected.

A section of Wingdale closest to the playground was sealed off from the rest of the school on Tuesday, so students can return to classes on Wednesday.

Tierney said the principal managed to assign students from affected classrooms to different parts of the school while remediation continues.

Tierney also said the district is expecting results of tests of air samples. which will "indicate the types of mold and help identify the necessary steps for remediation."