South River’s elementary and middle schools will be closed Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25, while environmental contractors conduct building-wide assessments following potential localized mold contamination.

The closures stem from an incident Tuesday, Sept. 22, when a recent power outage caused issues with the HVAC system serving the district’s elementary and middle school buildings. District officials said the system malfunction may have contributed to localized mold growth in several areas.

After discovering the issue, the district contacted specialized air-quality and remediation contractors to complete comprehensive inspections and cleaning, as needed.

“As a proactive measure, we closed the school today and tomorrow to conduct a building-wide assessment,” the superintendent said in a statement to the school community. “Results are pending. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain the district’s priority.”