Federal funds will pay for part of the remediation of mold found in an Edgecomb Eddy School science lab this summer. In August, the Edgecomb School Committee hired Serv Pro, a Maine restoration service, to remove the mold. The committee submitted an insurance claim to pay for the $266,053.80 in damages. On Nov. 10, Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Dr. Keith Laser reported the insurance claim was denied. 

Instead, the committee will use $128,836.83 from a second round of federal Corona Relief Fund dollars as partial payment for the remediation. The CRF was created to help schools pay for COVID-19 related expenses. In round 2, Laser reported Edgecomb received $140,861.55. “They won’t pay for it,” Laser said. “The insurance company couldn’t discern the cause came from anything descernible so we’re not covered.” Laser is seeking more federal or state dollars to cover remaining mold remediation costs. 

In other action, the committee decided against distance learning on snow days or any other school cancellations. “Power lines are impacted when in a big snow storm so we thought students wouldn’t have access to the internet,” Laser said.

Maine Department of Education is not requiring public schools to complete 175 days of instruction. So the committee decided against adding any additional  make-up days in June.

The committee meets next at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7.