Longley Elementary School in Lewiston will be closed Monday because of mold found inside of the school. (Sun Journal file photo)

LEWISTON – Longley Elementary School will be closed Monday because of mold found inside of the school.

Superintendent Bill Webster said the mold was discovered last week after Principal Kristy Clark started feeling sick from being in her office.

The entire school was tested, but mold was found only in the office area, which includes the principal’s, assistant principal’s and secretary’s offices.

Webster said one of the main culprits was Clark’s air conditioning unit. It was immediately removed and the area was closed off.

Mold removers continued their work Friday, and Webster said they thought it would be done by the end of the day but it wasn’t. Removers will finish on Monday.

Although the mold is contained to the office area, the whole school needs to be shut down in order to maintain negative air pressure.

The mold is believed to be caused by water that got into the building when the roof was being replaced three years ago.

Webster said when the work was being done there was no rain in the forecast, but they were hit with a rainstorm and water made its way into the office area.

He said it was cleaned out, but “obviously not well enough.”

Students will not have school Monday, but staff and teachers will have an in-service day at The Green Ladle at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

Webster said they fully expect school to reopen again Tuesday.

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