One of the three portables intended for experiential students at Porter Creek Secondary School is being remediated for mould, according to the Yukon government.

The other two portables have been cleared for use, with no health and safety concerns.

The portables were assigned to three outdoor programs moved from the Wood Street Centre this year: ACES (Achievement, Challenge, Environment and Stewardship), FACES (French Achievement, Challenge, Environment and Stewardship) and CHAOS (Community, Heritage, Adventure, Outdoors and Skills).

Superintendent Paul McFadyen said ACES and FACES students have been moved into one portable, with CHAOS students taking the second portable.

“Every program does have a classroom,” McFadyen told the Star Wednesday.

Jennifer Macgillivray, an assistant deputy minister with the Department of Highways and Public Works, said initial inspections earlier this summer didn’t find any cause for concern in the three portables.

On Aug. 10, a window was left open in one portable, causing water damage inside. A small spot of mould was then found inside the portable. 

Air quality testing was conducted and found a surface inside the portable had mould.

That portable is now being remediated and will be retested. 

Andrew Robulack, communications manager for the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board (WCB), said the Wood Street Centre’s Health and Safety Committee flagged the portables for investigation.

The WCB investigated all three portables and found that two –– which are joined into one structure –– were safe for occupancy on Thursday morning.

The third portable underwent initial testing on Aug. 19.

“This is an investigation that’s being prioritized by our health and safety officers,” Robulack said.

“We understand the concerns parents are feeling around this and we want to see the result as quickly as possible.”

Now that the experiential programs are housed in the two other portables, McFadyen said, the third portable may not be used.

“At this point, we’re not sure exactly how we’ll make use or what we’ll do exactly,” McFadyen said, noting he plans to work closely with school staff on that decision.

“The absolute importance of student health and safety within our schools, currently, is absolutely the first and foremost important thing we are dealing with.”