The return to school did not begin as scheduled for students at Del Sur Elementary School after school officials identified concerns related to moisture and potential mold issues in several classrooms on campus.

The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) announced that the start of the school year has been delayed until Tuesday, August 18, or Wednesday, August 19, while specialized teams carry out cleaning, remediation, and environmental assessments.

According to the district, an initial evaluation conducted by an independent specialist found that five classrooms were ready to be occupied, nine required additional remediation work, and one more needed to undergo further testing.

Over the next few days, crews will conduct specialized cleaning in the classrooms, work on ventilation ducts in the affected areas, and reassess the spaces following the remediation work.

The district also reported that it will install air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters and dehumidification systems, along with additional equipment to reduce moisture levels. Devices will also be placed in each classroom to monitor humidity levels.

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New environmental testing is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, with results expected between Sunday, August 16, and Monday, August 17. The final date for students to return will depend on those results and the completion of the remediation work.

The situation has also raised concerns among some parents, who questioned why they were notified only a few hours before the originally scheduled start of the school year and whether the issue could have been identified sooner.

The district said the decision to delay the return to school was made after consulting with independent professionals and that its priority is to ensure the classrooms are safe and suitable for students and staff before reopening them.

Del Sur Elementary is part of the Poway Unified School District and is located in the Del Sur community of San Diego. The school has faced mold-related concerns in previous years, according to earlier investigative reports.

For now, families will have to wait for the results of the new assessments to determine whether students will be able to return on August 18 or 19.