Monarch School Temporary Location Change

We expect to continue operations at Perkins and SCREC for at least two more weeks, to allow SDCOE time to secure and prepare another facility.

SDCOE is working with the South Bay Union School District to lease the Central Elementary School campus in Imperial Beach. SDCOE will offer bus transportation for all students (K-12) to and from the Newton Avenue campus to the new site.

The Central campus includes (among other things) 21 classrooms, an administrative office area, multipurpose room, kitchen, library, playground spaces, and ample parking.

The exact moving date is to be determined, but we expect it will be in two to three weeks. We will ensure staff and families have ample notification as the timeline is finalized.

Regardless of the progress on remediating the Monarch campus, to establish stability for our students and staff, we will be at the Central Elementary site at least through winter break. Should remediation take longer than that, we will stay at Central as long as we need.

Yes. SDCOE will offer bus transportation for all students (K-12) to and from the Newton Avenue campus to the new site.

Yes, and we will provide transportation for families as necessary so they can fully participate.

All classrooms will be outfitted with age-appropriate furniture, materials, and supplies.

SDCOE will work with the Monarch School Project (MSP) to determine the best location for expanded learning programming.

You can take your child to Central Elementary instead of Monarch School for transport. Central will have main office support staff to help welcome our students and family if their commute is closer to Central.

Transportation plans are currently being developed. We do not yet have finalized route or schedule information, but we will communicate these details to families as soon as they are confirmed.

We are currently working on a window for late arrivals to be transported to Central.

Yes, we will transport our students using our SDCOE/MSP vans.

SDCOE retained EHS Analytical Solutions, Inc., which conducted tests on Sept. 11, and Western Environmental & Safety Technology, which conducted testing on Sept. 13. Both companies inspected the building and collected samples throughout, including air samples in essentially every room, air samples outdoors for comparison, and surface samples from spots that appeared as though they could be mold. EHS also recorded temperature and humidity at each sample location.

Mold is a natural part of the environment, and small numbers of mold spores are always present in the air, indoors and outdoors. Air sampling counts the spores in a known volume of air and identifies which types of mold they come from. Surface sampling shows whether a stain or spot on a wall, ceiling tile, or vent is actually mold growth.

Both consultants identified multiple types of mold commonly encountered in indoor and outdoor environments, including Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, yeast, and, in limited locations, Stachybotrys/Memnoniella.

SDCOE will hire an environmental consulting firm to re-test the building after remediation work is completed to confirm that the corrective actions were effective before affected areas are returned to use by students and staff.

Mold can affect people differently. Some individuals may experience symptoms such as eye, nose, or throat irritation, coughing, headaches, or worsening of asthma or allergies, while others may experience no symptoms at all. The consultants' reports were environmental assessments and did not evaluate individual health conditions. Families who have concerns about their child's health or who believe their child may be experiencing symptoms should consult a healthcare provider. For support in accessing medical care, please contact your Monarch School counselor or Principal Baeza. 

The consultants found evidence of mold growth and elevated mold levels in multiple areas of the Monarch campus. Students and staff occupied the building before these conditions were identified, which is why SDCOE acted quickly to relocate students and employees once the extent of the problem became known. The reports do not determine when mold growth first began or how long any individual may have been exposed.

At this time, SDCOE is not aware of any determination that a student's illness was caused by mold exposure at the Monarch campus.

Students will stay with their same teacher and classmates at the new site.

School counselors and mental health services will continue without interruption.

Yes, special education services and IEP meetings will continue to be provided without interruption.

Yes. SDCOE will work with MSP to provide parents with the practice/game schedule.

Yes. Breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided for students.

We are working on establishing procedures for student health and illness-related situations at the new campus. Those procedures will be co-created with the involvement of our experts who are closest to this work. Once established, we will share clear guidance with families and staff.

Mold is a natural part of the environment, and small numbers of mold spores are always present in the air, indoors and outdoors. Air sampling counts the spores in a known volume of air and identifies which types of mold they come from. Surface sampling shows whether a stain or spot on a wall, ceiling tile, or vent is actually mold growth.

There is no local, state, or federal limit for mold spores in indoor air. Instead, the results are reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist, who compares each room with the outdoor air collected and considers which types of mold appear. Indoor air normally reflects outdoor air in the various types of mold. When a room shows clearly more spores than the outdoors, or types of mold associated with growth on damp indoor materials, that room receives attention in the report. A single number from a single room is not meaningful on its own, which is why the results are interpreted as a whole by a certified professional.

The written report will describe the inspection and sampling, present the laboratory results for each location sampled, identify the locations where mold growth was confirmed on surfaces or where the air results point to a likely indoor source, and provide recommendations. Typical recommendations include cleanup/mitigation of affected materials by a qualified professional contractor, controlling indoor humidity/temperature, correcting moisture sources, and follow-up verification sampling after the work is completed.

Download the EHS Report (PDF)

Download the WEST Report (PDF)

Both surveys identified mold growth and/or elevated indicators of indoor mold growth in multiple locations throughout the building. EHS Analytical Solutions concluded that fungal amplification is present within the building. Western Environmental & Safety Technology also stated that all areas of the building should be considered adversely affected by airborne mold spores and active mold growth.

Mold-related impacts were found in many, but not all, sampled locations. Some rooms showed elevated mold indicators and visible mold growth, while other rooms had low or non-detectable spore levels. The EHS report does not conclude that every room is affected, but it does identify mold growth and moisture-related conditions in multiple areas throughout the building. Western Environmental & Safety Technology recommended treating the building as broadly affected by mold contamination.

The surveys identified suspected mold growth and water damage at numerous supply vents and found conditions consistent with condensation associated with the ventilation system. However, the consultants did not inspect the interior of the HVAC system or ductwork so the next step is to professionally evaluate and address the HVAC system.

The surveys did not inspect the areas above the ceiling tiles, so their condition is currently unknown. However, they did identify mold-related impacts on a number of ceiling tiles, ceiling vent registers, return vents, and several HVAC duct surfaces. Additional investigation of concealed spaces will be part of the next phase of remediation and building evaluation.

The surveys were focused on visual observations, air sampling, and surface sampling. The consultants did not perform intrusive inspections or open ceiling spaces. Because of the findings, additional investigation will be necessary as part of the remediation process.

In their report, EHS Analytical Solutions noted that the region experienced an unusually warm and humid summer; consultants also observed conditions consistent with condensation associated with the building's supply ventilation system. Western Environmental & Safety Technology concluded that excessive heat and humidity, combined with conditions associated with the building's HVAC system, are likely contributing to the problem. A professional HVAC evaluation will be conducted to determine the specific causes and corrective actions needed.

The consultants identified conditions that suggest the HVAC system may not be operating as intended, however, the reports do not determine when those conditions began. Any repairs, upgrades, or system modifications will be determined after a professional evaluation is completed.

We expect that remediation will include identifying and correcting sources of water intrusion and excessive condensation, removing mold-damaged building materials, cleaning and sanitizing rooms and contents, replacing affected ceiling tiles and HVAC filters, addressing mold at supply vents and grilles, professionally cleaning HVAC ductwork, applying antimicrobial treatments where appropriate, inspecting concealed areas as needed, and conducting post-remediation verification sampling before the building is reoccupied.

The exact timeline will depend on the scope of remediation, HVAC repairs, and verification testing, and will be refined as work progresses. We will continue to share regular updates in writing, meetings, and in conjunction with our labor partners.

Remediation will be performed by trained professionals with experience in mold cleaning, containment, HVAC system cleaning, and environmental remediation. SDCOE will ensure building owner and landlord MSP retains qualified contractors and environmental professionals to perform and oversee the remediation work, including post-remediation verification testing before the building is returned to normal occupancy.

All surfaces and materials with visible or suspected mold growth will be cleaned, removed, or otherwise addressed in accordance with the remediation plan developed by qualified remediation professionals. Decisions about specific classroom materials, books, furniture, and personal belongings will be made based on their condition and the recommendations of qualified remediation professionals.

Yes. SDCOE will conduct post-remediation mold sampling to verify that remediation and cleaning activities have been effective and that indoor microbial levels are acceptable before the building is returned to normal occupancy. SDCOE will retain qualified professionals to conduct that verification.

The consultants recommend that mold remediation be completed, sources of water intrusion and excessive condensation be addressed, HVAC-related issues be corrected, affected materials be cleaned or removed, and post-remediation verification sampling be conducted to confirm that indoor microbial levels are acceptable before the building is returned to normal occupancy.

Post-remediation verification sampling conducted by qualified environmental professionals will be used to confirm that remediation has been effective before the building is returned to normal occupancy.

Yes. When SDCOE receives the post-remediation testing results, they will be shared with families and staff and posted on the SDCOE website.

The scope of post-remediation verification sampling will be determined by the qualified environmental professionals overseeing the remediation and verification process.

The purpose of post-remediation verification sampling is to confirm that remediation has been effective before affected areas are returned to use. If verification sampling indicates that remediation objectives have not been met or that indoor microbial levels remain unacceptable, additional corrective actions will be implemented before the building is returned to normal occupancy.

SDCOE is prepared to remain at Central Elementary for as long as it takes to remediate the Monarch campus.

If you have questions or feedback, please reach out to Principal Ruben Baeza. We will also continue to share written updates and to host staff meetings to support two-way communication.

On Aug. 27, 2026, MSP notified SDCOE leadership of an “active mold issue on our campus and the unprecedented speed at which it has spread over the last 24 hours.” MSP wrote,” Following initial campus walkthroughs, our team deployed dehumidifiers immediately, only to find the problem had escalated significantly by the following day.”

This is the second report of mold in the building in the past year. Our staff raised concerns about two rooms across the 50,000-plus square foot campus. SDCOE quickly communicated them to building owner and landlord MSP for investigation and remediation, and took actions to keep students and staff from entering those areas. In response, in February 2026, MSP reported replacing HVAC filters, installed a new HEPA filter, installing new hard flooring in one room, conducting a thorough cleaning and antimicrobial treatment of the other room, and performing certified inspections of the dehumidification and HVAC systems.

To understand this, SDCOE has requested prior maintenance records, HVAC inspections, and historical facility assessments from MSP, the building owner and landlord.

SDCOE and MSP are working through the implementation of the consultants' recommendations while continuing to evaluate their respective responsibilities under the lease. Regardless of how responsibilities are ultimately allocated, remediation, HVAC evaluation, and corrective actions will be completed before the building returns to normal occupancy.

The consultants recommend several actions intended to address both current conditions and future prevention, including identifying and correcting sources of water intrusion, resolving excessive condensation issues, professionally evaluating and balancing the HVAC system, thoroughly cleaning HVAC ductwork, replacing HVAC filters, removing mold-damaged materials, conducting post-remediation verification sampling before reoccupancy, and periodically monitoring indoor mold levels during hot and humid periods. Together, these measures are intended to reduce moisture conditions that can support future mold growth.