A developing health concern at John Kelly Elementary School in Thermal has left parents anxious as new details emerge regarding a persistent mold issue. During a recent segment of The Roggin Report, parent Loretta Perez shared her firsthand experience navigating the situation with her special needs student. While the school district previously suggested the problem was limited to two specific classrooms and largely resolved, a new notice sent by the principal on December 19, 2025, tells a different story.
According to the update, the principal took the proactive step of moving students out of a classroom over fears that the furniture remained contaminated. This move suggests that the remediation efforts described in earlier school reports may have been premature or insufficient. The school has now confirmed that testing for mold will continue throughout the winter break, with the possibility of further classroom reassignments when students return in January.
Roggin expressed strong concern over the lack of transparency, noting the discrepancy between the school's official reports and the current reality. "If I was a parent there, I would not be happy with the way this has been handled," Roggin remarked, highlighting that the mold may be present in more areas than initially disclosed. For the families in Thermal, the holiday break offers little relief as they wait to see if the campus will be truly safe for their children’s return.
By: NBC Palm Springs
December 19, 2025
