Summer is on the horizon and Pleasant Valley School District is taking steps to ward off the mold problems that plagued its buildings prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year.

The board on Thursday night unanimously approved a contract with Advanced Air Service Group of Aston, for air duct, coil and unit ventilator cleaning at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

The work will cost $139,470.

“We’re looking to expedite that cleaning as part of ongoing efforts to reduce chances of another mold problem,” said director Kenneth Cocuzzo in recommending the action.

Pleasant Valley Intermediate School started the 2018-19 school year by sharing Pleasant Valley Elementary School with elementary students as crews removed mold at PVI.

Mold was also found in small areas of the high school and the elementary school.

The board paid $977,479.84 to Belfor USA Group Inc. for mold remediation at the intermediate School. The money was taken from the Capital Reserve Fund. In all the remediation was expected to top $1 million.

At a property committee meeting in May, district officials said preventive measures have already begun for this year. The district purchased floor fans and there will be no carpet cleaning during the summer months, according to property committee meeting minutes. PVI unit ventilators were cleaned earlier this year.

“Instead of all the floor wax, the custodians are going to scrub and recoat the floors,” the minutes read.

“They are going to keep classroom doors open as the hallways are not air conditioned.”

Custodial staff will also be checking the classrooms so if there is an issue this summer, the district hopes less remediation will be needed.

“The goals is to keep air flowing,” property committee members said. “The plan is to be more proactive, which includes environmental testing planned and they will have results before school starts in the fall.”