Norwin schools have officially survived the Great Gorgonzola Panic of 2025. As reported in Joe Napsha’s article “Norwin officials: Schools safe to open after mold remediation” (Aug. 16, TribLive), the mold is gone, the schools are safe and yet the onlything still spreading faster than spores is online hysteria.
The irony is hard to miss. The same anti-mask crusaders who mocked public health during the pandemic now demand schools be sealed in bubble wrap and hazmat tape — over mold that’s already been remediated.
Even the CDC was dragged into this circus to confirm the mold type: Aspergillus. Sounds scary? Not really. Aspergillus oryzae is the same species used to make soy sauce. If that’s deadly, then I’ve been playing hibachi Russian roulette at every one of my kids’ birthday dinners.
Let’s be honest: This isn’t about protecting students. It’s about a lame-duck board member and a loud minority desperate to stay relevant by stoking fear. Meanwhile, Superintendent Natalie McCracken handled the issue swiftly and transparently, ensuring safety without fanfare. That’s leadership.
Rational parents and new Knight families can relax: The only toxicity at Norwin isn’t in the buildings — it’s in the comment section. I’m not a microbiologist, but the real toxic mold festering at Norwin is easy to spot.
Currently surviving hibachi night,
Justin Lokay
North Huntingdon