Mold Forces Two Michigan School Districts to Delay First Day

The first day of school is on hold for students in two Michigan districts after mold was discovered in classrooms, forcing administrators to push back the start of the 2025–26 school year.

School officials for Dundee Community Schools in Monroe County and Saline Area Schools in Washtenaw County have sent letters informing parents that classes in both districts will be delayed.

New Start Dates for Dundee and Saline

In Dundee, classes were first pushed to Tuesday, August 26, before another setback delayed the start until Tuesday, September 2. In Saline, classes for middle school students will begin on August 27, two days after the original start date. Students in other district buildings will return as planned on August 25.

Why School Is Delayed

District leaders say the problem stems from high humidity over the summer combined with ongoing construction and ventilation issues. Crews have been working with professional restoration companies to clean and sanitize affected classrooms, using industrial dehumidifiers, antimicrobial treatments, and HEPA air scrubbers to ensure safe air quality.

Saline officials say the mold was limited to a few middle school spaces, but out of caution, they’re waiting for additional test results before bringing students back into the building. Other schools in the district are not affected.

Both districts emphasized that student and staff safety remains their top priority and said they will not reopen buildings until independent test results confirm that classrooms are safe.