KYLE, Texas — Hays CISD said mold was detected at one of its elementary schools this week, and remediation efforts will keep the campus closed for a week.

The district said that on Wednesday, an odor prompted an air quality test at Hemphill Elementary School in Kyle. 

Remediation crews worked to remove mold from a classroom, but it was discovered the problem is more widespread. At least 13 classrooms are affected in areas behind the walls and up to about 3 feet above the floors.

It’s now believed that students won’t be able to return to the campus until Thursday, Nov. 9.

The district said students will continue to have access to meal service while the school is closed. It’s a grab-and-go service similar to what was done during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hays CISD further said it has enough instructional minutes to accommodate two full days of canceled classes without the need to make them up. It will work with the Texas Education Agency and possibly seek a waiver for the remaining missed days of instruction. That would prevent students from having to return on scheduled holidays.

The district said the air quality test revealed elevated levels of Aspergillus/Penicillium.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states this about Aspergillus:

"Aspergillus, the mold (a type of fungus) that causes aspergillosis, is very common both indoors and outdoors, so most people breathe in fungal spores every day. It’s probably impossible to completely avoid breathing in some Aspergillus spores.

“For people with healthy immune systems, breathing in Aspergillus isn’t harmful. However, for people who have weakened immune systems, breathing in Aspergillus spores can cause an infection in the lungs or sinuses which can spread to other parts of the body.”