VIDEO: Cedarbrook Middle School students to divide into four campuses as a result of mold problem

After months of discussion, Cheltenham School District has announced a plan for its middle school students to move into four new locations after the discovery of mold at Cedarbrook Middle School.

The district announced Dec. 16 that students will be divided into four campuses: Gratz College, Elkins Park School, Cheltenham Elementary School and Cheltenham High School.

Gratz College, 7605 Old York Road in Melrose Park, will house the majority of students with two eighth-grade teams and one seventh-grade team approximately 375 students. As of Dec. 16, Gratz College had given the district a letter of intent to allow Cheltenham to lease space there; a contract had not been signed yet, and the district did not provide any details on the cost.

In addition to the Gratz campus, Cheltenham High School will house one eighth-grade team of about 125 students, and Elkins Park School will accommodate one seventh-grade team of another 125 students. Finally, Cheltenham Elementary School will hold one seventh-grade team of 125 students.

Other locations the district considered renting space from were Arcadia University, Salus University, Glenside-Weldon School, 500 Virginia Drive in the Fort Washington Office Park, KI School, DeVry University, John L. Kinsey School, New Covenant Church and Bishop McDevitt, among others, according to a PowerPoint the district presented.

Cheltenham expects some additional personnel may be needed to meet the needs of students at different locations. Sports programs should not be affected greatly by the move, and Gratz is allowing the middle school to use its theater to perform the spring musical Shrek, according to the district.

Back in July, the mold problem reared its head during routine building maintenance, and in September, the district completed a full mold remediation of the school and allowed students back into the school a bit later than the regularly scheduled return date to school.

Currently, Cedarbrook has closed down 10 classrooms and the cafeteria due to the mold. Students eat their lunches in the auditorium.

The plan is to keep students divided at four campuses for about a year to a year and a half. Then, they would be brought back together at a temporary location. Superintendant Natalie Thomas said an entirely new, mold-free Cedarbrook would take about four years to construct, according to officials with whom shes consulted. Continued...

Its not ideal, but we want to make sure their academic and extracurricular programming stays intact and that we are here for them. As a family, were going to take care of this, said Susan OGrady, director of communications and development.

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VIDEO: Cedarbrook Middle School students to divide into four campuses as a result of mold problem