CMS fixes mold, insect issues after parents, students complain

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Staff at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools have been busy over the summer break cleaning and repairing schools.

[PAST COVERAGE: CMS fighting to get $800 million bond on ballot for school maintenance]

This comes as the district hopes voters approve a $922 million bond package this November.

It would fund 29 projects across the district to alleviate overcrowding and make major improvements.

During the 2016-17 school year, parents and students complained of mold, roaches, dirty water fountains and mushrooms growing from the floor at CMS schools.

There were dirty drinking fountains at West Mecklenburg High School.

Channel 9 received pictures of mushrooms growing out of the floor, and a sink falling off the wall at Bruns Academy.

When Channel 9 looked through Bruns Academy health inspection report from July, it showed that growth still existed.

[LINK: Bruns Academy health inspection]

Inspectors found the same issue at Druid Hills Elementary School and Thomasboro Academy.

[LINK: Druid Hills Elementary School health inspection]

[LINK: Thomasboro Academy health inspection]

Last week, CMS confirmed it took care of those issues before school started.

CMS Chief Operating Officer Carol Stamper said they've been working hard over the summer to fix issues.

"To me, this is like spring cleaning on steroids," Stamper said.

She said 800 people on staff, and 20 hired contractors, had about 55 days to clean and make repairs.

She said the district poured $16.9 million into completing 201 maintenance projects.

The majority of the money, around $4.6 million went to mobile units.

CMS said that it renovated many of the 1,192 mobile classrooms and mobile restrooms.

Albemarle Road ES, Berry Hill ES, Briarwood ES, Bruns Academy, Druid Hills Academy, Thomasboro Academy, West Charlotte HS, West Mecklenburg HS and Westerly Hills Academy had improvements made to mobile restrooms.

CMS said it relocated 60 mobile units at 13 schools to help with overcrowding.

North Mecklenburg High School received the most help.

CMS send they spent nearly $2 million on roof repairs at North Meck.

A combined $407,000 went to plumbing, pest control, building services, and structural issues.

CMS said every drinking fountain was cleaned and staff replaced around 50 fountains.

More than $21,000 went to pest management.

Most of the money was used to purchase fire ant equipment to treat CMS football fields. They treated more than 30 fields over the summer.

CMS spend $87,000 on paving roads around schools.

Blythe Hidden Valley saw the most improvements.

The district said other schools had pothole repairs during the summer.

The principal at Collinswood Language Academy said over the summer crews fixed a pot hole, trimmed their canopy, and cleaned and polished classroom floors.

Stamper said the district was also able to complete a large number of projects funded under a $18 million sustainment plan.

Most of the money was spent on replacing roofs, but some of the money went into improving the lawn at Allenbrook Elementary School, a new tennis court at Butler High School, and new chillers at Sedgefield Middle School and Mountain Island Lake.

The district plans other projects by November.

Cox Media Group