MIDDLETON, Wis. -- There will be no school at Kromrey Middle School in Middleton this week due to a mold problem in parts of the building.

Middleton-Cross Plains School District Superintendent Donald Johnson said in a letter Tuesday that the district anticipates reopening on Sept. 7 pending the air sampling lab results.

The superintendent said the mold problem was identified last week by Kromrey staff and the environmental consultant was immediately brought in to analyze the problem.

School officials said initial reports indicated that small scale cleaning would be sufficient. But officials said the most recent air sampling reports indicate the problem has not been eliminated and is more widespread than initially thought.

Johnson noted that there have been similar mold problems with numerous schools throughout southern Wisconsin in the last few weeks due to the extremely hot and humid summer.

The district said lab results indicated elevated levels of aspergillus/penicillium. It is not considered toxic to a healthy person but can be harmful to those with immune compromised respiratory systems or specific allergies to the microbial species, the district said.

School officials said they are working with Environmental Management Consulting Inc. to analyze the situation and to find the most effective and efficient solution. The district said it has also contracted with a professional mold remediation and cleaning agency, and during the next six days the entire building will be thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom.

After the cleaning is complete, the district will perform clearance testing of the building to ensure the safety of students and staff. Clearance testing will indicate whether the air quality levels are within the acceptable range.

School officials said a frequently asked question document with more information, including specifics on the mold species, is available on the district website and will be updated throughout the process. For the FAQ on the Kromrey mold situation, click here.

The district said it will continue to monitor the situation and keep parents informed via e-mail and the Kromrey website at www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/kms.