Oxford Classes Delayed Three Days; Supt. Says Air Quality Must Be “Extremely Safe”

The Fairhaven School Committee has decided to delay the opening of classes for 240 elementary school students, because of an ongoing mold problem at the Oxford School.

The decision was announced at an emergency School Committee meeting on Saturday. Oxford has been closed for several years, but was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday and host students from the Wood School, while their new school is under construction.

The Committee and Supt. Dr. Robert Baldwin are now aiming for a September 4 start-date at Oxford. Parent Cheryl Duarte says she knows school officials are doing all they can, but she would rather avoid the Oxford School altogether.

Supt. Baldwin says Oxford failed an air quality test on Thursday. More cleaning and testing is planned this week.

Baldwin says the air quality at Oxford must be deemed extremely safe, or no one goes in. He says the committee would then look at putting students in available classrooms at Hastings Middle School.