Attorney Speaks on New Mold Findings Reported at Two More CVUSD Schools

Parents and families are continuing to voice concerns after new positive mold findings were confirmed at two additional schools in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

On Wednesday, district representatives announced that mold was discovered at Desert Mirage High School and Toro Canyon Middle School in Thermal. According to officials, testing revealed mold in several shared areas, including an electrical room, a library technology room, and the Desert Mirage attendance office.

These findings come on top of previous mold discoveries at two other district schools, including John Kelly Elementary, which led to a lawsuit filed by parents against CVUSD. The attorney representing those families says more parents are now joining the legal action.

The attorney representing parents of the John Kelley Elementary case told NBC Palm Springs that while the district was more transparent this time, it had not always been forthcoming in the past. He pointed to earlier mold findings at John Kelley, where parents were allegedly asked to sign non-disclosure agreements and were not immediately informed of the risks.

“It’s clear that it is not just John Kelley. It is everywhere there,” the attorney Elan Zektser said. “And there’s one common denominator, and it is the district.”

In response, CVUSD says certified environmental professionals have been hired to conduct independent assessments and oversee cleanup efforts at affected campuses. District officials say they are working to address the issue and ensure student and staff safety.

NBC Palm Springs has also reached out to the district for information on how many additional schools remain to be inspected. District leaders have not yet released a full timeline for the remaining evaluations.