Broken Arrow schools say no mold found at middle school

Broken Arrow Public Schools says there is no mold after a parent's concern about school safety was posted on social media before school starts.

Thursday, August 7th 2025, 7:59 am

By: Kaitlyn Deggs

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -

Broken Arrow Public Schools is responding after a parent's social media post showed what the parent believes to be mold on the ceiling tiles of Sequoyah Middle School.

They sent this statement on Aug. 11, saying that two separate companies tested and found no mold at Sequoyah Middle School.

We understand that any concern about the health and safety of our students and staff is deeply important to our families. The district shares this concern, and we are committed to providing safe, healthy learning environments where everyone can thrive.

You may be aware of the recent news coverage regarding concerns about alleged mold at Sequoyah Middle School, and we’d like to provide you with an update on this concern. As part of our standard safety protocols, the district uses a certified third-party provider to conduct air quality testing that helps guide response and repair. In this case, two separate companies were used in two separate tests and the results were the same. No evidence of mold was detected in either test.

If and when mold is discovered in any district facilities, you can expect the following response from district officials:

1 Immediate removal of students and staff from the affected areas.

2 Immediate steps to address the health concerns and restore the environment to one that is safe for students and staff.

3 Prompt, direct communication with the parents and staff who may be affected by the situation.

If you have any questions or notice anything concerning, we encourage you to contact an administrator at your school site. We value open communication and appreciate your support in helping us respond quickly to issues as they arise.

Thank you for your partnership in working to keep our schools safe.

PARENT’S FRUSTRATION

Mike Eccles says he was shocked at the condition of Sequoyah Middle School when he was there to pick up his kid’s schedule Tuesday.

He said it didn’t just look bad, it also smelled like mold.

“The best way I can describe walking into some of her classes that she’ll actually be in, is like going to a house that hasn’t been opened in 15 years, and opening the door for the first time,” said Eccles.

He took the pictures as a way to spread awareness and see if others had similar experiences, while encouraging the district to do something about it.

“Everything got very dark, very dreary, very wet, the air,” said Eccles. “We started noticing missing ceiling tiles, cracked ceiling tiles, sagging ceiling tiles that were black.”

Eccles says he’s worried about fixing these problems in a short time and about the teachers who have been working here before school starts.

“I think we’re a little past that,” said Eccles. “We have a week to get that school ready to be opened, and teacher are supposed to be in there Friday setting up their classrooms in these conditions. It’s not only about the kids, it’s about the health of even the employees there. If you’re trying to tell me that you’re going to fix tiles, leaking, carpets, smell, roaches in seven days, and not only that, take care of the underlying issues that are causing it, you’re crazy.”

Eccles says he saw the ceiling tiles and took pictures when picking up his child's schedule before school starts.

Broken Arrow Public Schools sent News On 6 this statement:

"Our maintenance teams work hard all summer to make sure our schools are safe learning environments for our students. We still have a week before students arrive, and the maintenance order to replace the ceiling tiles was already in the system to be completed before the first day of school. An air quality assessment is included as part of our process for ceiling tile repairs and replacements, and in the event a mold is discovered, additional abatement measures are taken. The staff at our sites can also request an air quality assessment at any point in the year.

"Had the person who posted these photos opted instead to ask a question or start a conversation with district officials, their concerns could have been alleviated quickly without causing alarm or mistrust. The issue was known and is being resolved before students arrive. Roof repair and replacement was one of the items made possible in the 2023 bond issue, but because not all bond monies are received up front, a replacement cycle must be followed with repairs taking place as funding allows."

School starts for BAPS on August 13th.