MEXICO — Mountain Valley Middle School will be closed the remainder of the week due to the air quality, Regional School Unit 10 Superintendent Deb Alden wrote in a letter to staff, parents and families and posted Tuesday on the Mexico Fire Department’s Facebook page.

“This is not a letter I have ever wanted to write,” she said. “However, it is necessary in our quest to be transparent and have honest and upfront communication with all of you in the most timely fashion possible.”

Alden said the decision was made after meeting Tuesday afternoon with Mark Coleman, senior industrial hygienist for Sevee & Maher Engineers regarding the latest air quality tests and a follow-up Monday in the school at 58 Highland Terrace. “It is apparent that most of the building is no longer a healthy place to work and learn in,” she wrote.

The issue is “forms of mold spores,” Alden said by phone Tuesday evening. “This is the third (test) we’ve had done and each time it was different areas that showed problems. This time it was really bad,” she said.

“There is a reason we’re building a new school,” she said of the $92 million Mountain Valley Community School under construction on Highland Avenue.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m. staff will meet in the school auditorium and may retrieve any items before the meeting,” according to her letter. “We will have masks available for those of you wishing to use them while in the building.”

There will be no school for middle school students unless they are currently at Bryant Pond, Alden said.

Families and students may come to the school Friday to retrieve personal items, including laptops and food. Masks will be available for all who wish to use them.

“For the short-term, after this week, students will begin remote learning on Tuesday, Oct. 15,” Alden said.

“Additionally, we are brainstorming ideas and exploring multiple locations in order to bring students and staff back together as fast as humanly possible,” she said.