Swimmers and divers at three Forest Hills schools will return to the water Monday, Oct. 19, after mold closed the Turpin High School natatorium for nearly two months.
Superintendent Suzanna Davis told families of Nagel Middle School, Anderson High School and Turpin High School on Friday, Oct. 16, that a third-party remediation company finished its work ahead of schedule. A separate firm then conducted air quality tests in the space, and results came back within normal levels, according to the district's announcement.
The pool passed.
The natatorium is the sole on-campus pool facility for all three schools' swim and dive programs. Its closure came during what was already a major infrastructure project: replacing the pool's air handling unit, a job the Forest Hills School District Board of Education approved in December 2025 at an estimated cost of $599,000, with Triton Services, Inc. as the contractor.
During that summer HVAC work, district staff walking through the space noticed unusually high humidity and what appeared to be microbial growth on portions of the walls and ceiling, Davis said in an Aug. 31 statement announcing the closure. The district brought in environmental quality professionals, who determined the space needed professional cleaning, sanitization and remediation. The district's insurance provider covered that additional work, Davis said at the time.
The natatorium operates on a separate air circulation system that does not connect to any other area of Turpin High School. Preliminary air quality testing outside the pool area after the problems were discovered showed levels within normal standards. The space remained closed to students, staff and visitors throughout the project.
The reopening lands ahead of the Oct. 23 start of Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sanctioned swim and dive practices. The Turpin pool has taken on added importance since the Board of Education on June 29 directed the administration to explore filling in the Anderson High School basement pool and repurposing that space, making the natatorium the district's only competitive aquatic venue.
