Education chiefs have given a progress report on clean-up work carried out so far at CedarBridge Academy.

But they were unable to say what type of mould had forced the shutdown. It is understood that details on the fungi behind the closure were due to have been given to Education Minister Randy Horton by the start of this week.

However, when asked if this information was available, Permanent Secretary Rosemary Tyrrell yesterday told a press conference: “We will have that update shortly.”

She told reporters a microbiology specialist flew into Bermuda yesterday from Philadelphia. Asked if a report on the type of mould had been prepared, she said Government was waiting for extra information that will be provided by the US expert so a “complete report” could be produced.

Mrs. Tyrrell could not say when the report would be ready and its results made public.

She added: “After we have talked to everyone this evening and tomorrow I will be able to give you a better timeframe.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tyrrell gave an update as intensive work continues cleaning CedarBridge.

The school is currently closed as clean-up crews work to improve air quality levels after a mould scare triggered environmental health concerns.

It has been reported that aspergillus mould could be responsible.

She said that some 20 rooms, out of an estimated total of 30 thought to have been affected, in the school’s north block have already been cleaned.

“Soft demolition” has taken place in some rooms, meaning ceiling tiles and insulation had been removed. Sub-contractors had also been drafted in to resolve leaks.

The Permanent Secretary reported that 12 air conditioning units in south block have been removed and cleaned and are due to be disinfected and covered to avoid recontamination.

“The main school library, plus ancillary spaces, were expected to have been cleaned by the end of today,” she told reporters.

Some 30 people, comprising of specialists assisted by staff, are working full time on the task.

It was confirmed yesterday that a meeting with CedarBridge parents will be held tomorrow in the cafe at Dellwood Middle School, starting at 5.30 p.m.

This will provide details about the relocation, which will see some pupils head to the old Berkeley site while others attend Bermuda College.

Mrs. Tyrrell said that a meeting would be held with transport officials to ensure students were picked up and collected on time during the relocation, due to swing into action after this week’s half-term holiday.

Education officials last night said that although the clean-up at CedarBridge was progressing well, it was too early to give a firm date of when classes would be able to resume.

Last week Mrs. Tyrrell said work to address the mould problems that shut down CedarBridge was on target for completion in a few weeks.

She said the building would not be reoccupied until the Ministry of Health certified it safe to do so.

The Permanent Secretary and CedarBridge principal Kalmar Richards yesterday thanked computer and telecommunication experts from North Rock Communications, M3 Wireless and the Bermuda Computer Society who had helped smooth the relocation process.

Bussie Ible, head of IT at CedarBridge, said: “These companies have come to our help at a time when we desperately needed them.”

He said they had helped the school relocate computer facilities to Bermuda College and the old Berkeley while maintaining access to systems at CedarBridge, which contains information on pupils’ projects and coursework.