A Beaver County school serving students with complex special needs is facing a second mold-related setback just weeks before its planned return to classes. Mold was found on teaching supplies, desks, furniture, and library books stored for the renovation, forcing the items to be discarded. New Horizon School is still scheduled to reopen on August 24, but classrooms will need to be rebuilt almost from scratch.
The latest discovery came after New Horizon was closed and relocated when mold was found throughout the building in August 2025. According to CBS Pittsburgh, crews working on a $15 million renovation learned that mold had spread inside storage containers. The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit oversees the school and moved students to another location while the work continued.
A $15 Million Fix Is Racing Toward August
The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit’s project timeline says the original investigation found mold in about 64 rooms, with asbestos discovered during the remediation process. The unit said faulty ventilation units and window casings were identified as causes of the initial mold problem, while its board approved borrowing up to $15 million for the rehabilitation, according to the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. In a separate construction update, BVIU said abatement and carpet removal were complete, classroom framing was finished, and HVAC, electrical and window work was advancing. That update lists August 14 as the targeted substantial-completion date and says the school remains on track to reopen for the 2026-27 academic year.
Teachers Need Furniture, Books And Classroom Basics
With supplies and furnishings thrown out, teacher Erin Palmiero posted an Amazon classroom wishlist and said the school was “starting from scratch this school year,” as reported by CBS Pittsburgh. Regional schools, including some outside Beaver County, have pledged to donate furniture and other items, while BVIU Executive Director Eric Rosendale described the situation as overwhelming.
New Horizon serves children and young adults ages 5 to 21 from Beaver County schools and provides specialized academic, therapy and behavioral supports, according to the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. The unit says potential donors can contact its office to coordinate supplies, a need that has become more urgent as the reopening date approaches.
Suzanne Holt, whose 12-year-old son attends New Horizon, told CBS she was caught off guard by the latest mold discovery but remained hopeful the school could open on time with community support. For families who have already endured a year of disruption, the August reopening is now tied not only to whether construction finishes, but whether the classrooms can be refilled before students return.
