Consider it posted: February 23, 2009. Grandview at 7:00 P.M.
A bunch of parents got together last night to discuss the Move up ceremonies for the 4th and 5th graders, since they will BOTH be moving to the HS next year. I was very impressed with the turnout. The conversation, as you can imagine, turned quickly towards what WE can do as parents to organize this community. Personally, I think the PTO is a good start. I’m hoping there are other parents that read your blog with the same thoughts. SOOOO The next PTO meeting is February 23 at 7pm in Grandview . Can you post something?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Vitetta Chooses Grandview
From buckslocalnews.com
Firm concludes Grandview is better than Reiter
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Vitetta, an architectural and engineering firm, recently concluded a study of M.R. Reiter and Grand-view elementary schools in Morrisville School District.
A recommendation was made at a special public hearing on Jan. 29: if any school is going to be used for an elementary school, Grandview Elementary School is the better choice from a physical standpoint.
Bill Corfield, a regional director of Vitetta, said his firm was directed to conduct a study, comparing M.R. Reiter and Grandview in order to determine which school is in "better condition."
The auditorium at the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School was sparsely filled with parents, mostly who were asking if the Morrisville School Board has any long-range plans about displaced schoolchildren from M.R. Reiter Elementary School. A public hearing was held to give the community a chance to voice their opinions.
Reiter was closed in mid-December after a furnace exploded on the weekend. The Morrisville School Board is considering whether to close the school permanently.
As a result, the children who were displaced from M.R. Reiter were sent either to Grandview or the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Vitetta's study was conducted prior to the explosion. At M.R. Reiter, the firm had checked the heating units, boilers, electric, plumbing, exhaust fans and lighting.
According to Vitetta's Corfield, M. R. Reiter does not have handicap accessibility. He noted that Reiter is 2 1/2 stories high and that it is "hard to get around the building." Grandview is one floor.
"When planning an elementary school, it is always advantageous to have it on one floor," Corfield said.
He noted there is a water problem in the multi-purpose room at Reiter. "We have some major concerns about the amount of water and how to stop it," he said, noting the source of the water is unknown. The floor had to be replaced once because of the problem.
Corfield explained, "because of the water entry, the building is settling. Major cracks have been there. They're not getting any better."
"The Grandview School is in better condition," he said. "We did not see cracks or water infiltration in Grand-view."
Reiter sits on about three acres at the corner of Harper and Clymer avenues. The square footage for the entire building is 46,200 and it is zoned CS-1 (Community Service District.)
The current estimated insurance loss due to the furnace explosion is $1.15 million. "It's growing as we speak," said Paul DeAngelo, business manager for the school district.
"They're still in the process of cleaning the building," he said.
Meanwhile, he said after the meeting that the Morrisville School District entered into an appraisal agreement on Dec. 7 with Gleason Real Estate.
The value of the building and the land at Reiter is estimated at $995,000.
DeAngelo gave some history about Reiter, which previously was the site of the Robert Morris High School and was built on the site in 1924.
In 1959, the school was destroyed by fire. Later, it was rebuilt as M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
DeAngelo said the last record about the furnace was recorded in 1959. "They're well over 40 years old. They should have been replaced twice," he said.
The clean-up at Reiter continues. Teachers have received the supplies and materials from their classrooms. The clean-up company is focusing on the content first and the building last.
"What's still there are desks and filing cabinets," DeAngelo said. They are being cleaned and will be taken to the modular classrooms at Grandview Elementary by Feb. 20.
"The clean up is going pretty much as we thought," he said. "It's a slow process because it's the entire building.
The insurance claim is for $1.15 million. DeAngelo said a big chunk is the modular classrooms. Leasing eight modular classrooms with bathrooms will cost $500,000, he noted.
The insurance company sent a forensic engineer. "His recommendation is to replace the boilers," DeAn-gelo explained. "The school district will put it out to bid to determine the costs-we're estimating $300,000 for two boilers."
Other big-ticket items, he said, include the clean up for $93,000. Some computers are being tested, which will cost $134,000.
"We have a whole list of miscellaneous items from staff time, to the windows that got blown out to cleaning and inspection," DeAngelo added.
The cost to renovate and install a new furnace at Reiter would be $4 million. Meanwhile, the cost to renovate Grandview Elementary School is $2.6 million.
The modulars are being installed and will be finished Feb. 20, according to DeAngelo. "The snow and ice put us behind."
He said the immediate priority is getting the modular classrooms installed at Grandview, where some of the Reiter children are going since the blast.
In the summer, the school district could "look at the possibility of bringing the fourth grade to the high school," DeAngelo indicated, stressing that plan could be contingent upon the board's decision whether or not to close M.R. Reiter.
DeAngelo also talked about what could happen if the board ultimately votes to close Reiter. The long-term plan, according to the business manager, could be to create an intermediate high school for fourth-to eighth-grade. That group could be sectioned off from 9th-to 12th-graders. K-3 could be at Grandview.
Firm concludes Grandview is better than Reiter
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Vitetta, an architectural and engineering firm, recently concluded a study of M.R. Reiter and Grand-view elementary schools in Morrisville School District.
A recommendation was made at a special public hearing on Jan. 29: if any school is going to be used for an elementary school, Grandview Elementary School is the better choice from a physical standpoint.
Bill Corfield, a regional director of Vitetta, said his firm was directed to conduct a study, comparing M.R. Reiter and Grandview in order to determine which school is in "better condition."
The auditorium at the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School was sparsely filled with parents, mostly who were asking if the Morrisville School Board has any long-range plans about displaced schoolchildren from M.R. Reiter Elementary School. A public hearing was held to give the community a chance to voice their opinions.
Reiter was closed in mid-December after a furnace exploded on the weekend. The Morrisville School Board is considering whether to close the school permanently.
As a result, the children who were displaced from M.R. Reiter were sent either to Grandview or the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Vitetta's study was conducted prior to the explosion. At M.R. Reiter, the firm had checked the heating units, boilers, electric, plumbing, exhaust fans and lighting.
According to Vitetta's Corfield, M. R. Reiter does not have handicap accessibility. He noted that Reiter is 2 1/2 stories high and that it is "hard to get around the building." Grandview is one floor.
"When planning an elementary school, it is always advantageous to have it on one floor," Corfield said.
He noted there is a water problem in the multi-purpose room at Reiter. "We have some major concerns about the amount of water and how to stop it," he said, noting the source of the water is unknown. The floor had to be replaced once because of the problem.
Corfield explained, "because of the water entry, the building is settling. Major cracks have been there. They're not getting any better."
"The Grandview School is in better condition," he said. "We did not see cracks or water infiltration in Grand-view."
Reiter sits on about three acres at the corner of Harper and Clymer avenues. The square footage for the entire building is 46,200 and it is zoned CS-1 (Community Service District.)
The current estimated insurance loss due to the furnace explosion is $1.15 million. "It's growing as we speak," said Paul DeAngelo, business manager for the school district.
"They're still in the process of cleaning the building," he said.
Meanwhile, he said after the meeting that the Morrisville School District entered into an appraisal agreement on Dec. 7 with Gleason Real Estate.
The value of the building and the land at Reiter is estimated at $995,000.
DeAngelo gave some history about Reiter, which previously was the site of the Robert Morris High School and was built on the site in 1924.
In 1959, the school was destroyed by fire. Later, it was rebuilt as M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
DeAngelo said the last record about the furnace was recorded in 1959. "They're well over 40 years old. They should have been replaced twice," he said.
The clean-up at Reiter continues. Teachers have received the supplies and materials from their classrooms. The clean-up company is focusing on the content first and the building last.
"What's still there are desks and filing cabinets," DeAngelo said. They are being cleaned and will be taken to the modular classrooms at Grandview Elementary by Feb. 20.
"The clean up is going pretty much as we thought," he said. "It's a slow process because it's the entire building.
The insurance claim is for $1.15 million. DeAngelo said a big chunk is the modular classrooms. Leasing eight modular classrooms with bathrooms will cost $500,000, he noted.
The insurance company sent a forensic engineer. "His recommendation is to replace the boilers," DeAn-gelo explained. "The school district will put it out to bid to determine the costs-we're estimating $300,000 for two boilers."
Other big-ticket items, he said, include the clean up for $93,000. Some computers are being tested, which will cost $134,000.
"We have a whole list of miscellaneous items from staff time, to the windows that got blown out to cleaning and inspection," DeAngelo added.
The cost to renovate and install a new furnace at Reiter would be $4 million. Meanwhile, the cost to renovate Grandview Elementary School is $2.6 million.
The modulars are being installed and will be finished Feb. 20, according to DeAngelo. "The snow and ice put us behind."
He said the immediate priority is getting the modular classrooms installed at Grandview, where some of the Reiter children are going since the blast.
In the summer, the school district could "look at the possibility of bringing the fourth grade to the high school," DeAngelo indicated, stressing that plan could be contingent upon the board's decision whether or not to close M.R. Reiter.
DeAngelo also talked about what could happen if the board ultimately votes to close Reiter. The long-term plan, according to the business manager, could be to create an intermediate high school for fourth-to eighth-grade. That group could be sectioned off from 9th-to 12th-graders. K-3 could be at Grandview.
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
From buckslocalnews.com
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
Pennsbury School District rejected taking Morrisville high school students.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Morrisville School District is searching for another school district to take its high school students on a tuition basis.When asked to comment on the issue, Elizabeth Yonson, superintendent of Morrisville School District, deferred the question to Morrisville Borough Council Solicitor Mike Fitzpatrick and School Board President Bill Hellman. Neither could be reached for comment.
Pennsbury CEO Paul Long said "the Pennsbury solicitor, Michael Kristofco, has recently communicated with the Morrisville solicitor on this topic.
"Also, the Pennsbury School Board and administration are aware of the difficulties that the Borough of Morrisville School District face," Long said. "However, as far as I know there are not any official initiatives or proposals to consider at this time."
Greg Lucidi, president of the Pennsbury School Board, responded via e-mail on Jan. 27 about Morrisville's invitation for Pennsbury to accept the borough's 9th-to 12th-graders.
"Morrisville is in an extremely difficult situation and I really wish we could help, but Pennsbury is not in the position to absorb 300 additional students at our high school," Lucidi responded.
The Pennsbury High School campus has room for 3,414 students and is approaching that limit with roughly 3,400 students currently enrolled.
"I really do not believe this idea is feasible at Pennsbury," he continued. "We have our own set of problems and issues and we are working very hard to solve them. We simply cannot add to our list of challenges right now."
The question is whether Pennsbury facilities can handle the additional students. Space constraints are a concern, according to the school board president.
"Prior to the addition and renovations at Pennsbury High School West, we were experiencing space problems," Lucidi explained. "We added to the school and our student population now fits comfortably in the space available.
"Adding 300 students to the school would in my opinion cause us to be right back where we were before the additional space was added," he wrote.
When asked whether the issue should go to voter referendum, Lucidi said, "Unfortunately, we cannot use voter referendum to make our decisions for us. We were elected by the public to make and enforce school policy.
"We do take public comments into consideration when making decisions, but ultimately it's based upon what we believe to be in the best interests of both our students and our taxpayers," he maintained.
"If our state representatives want to get involved in this issue, they should work directly with Morrisville to help them solve their problems instead of shifting the burden to neighboring districts," he wrote.
The cost to educate a secondary-level student in Pennsbury School District is $12,011. In Morrisville, it is $14,215.
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
Pennsbury School District rejected taking Morrisville high school students.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Morrisville School District is searching for another school district to take its high school students on a tuition basis.When asked to comment on the issue, Elizabeth Yonson, superintendent of Morrisville School District, deferred the question to Morrisville Borough Council Solicitor Mike Fitzpatrick and School Board President Bill Hellman. Neither could be reached for comment.
Pennsbury CEO Paul Long said "the Pennsbury solicitor, Michael Kristofco, has recently communicated with the Morrisville solicitor on this topic.
"Also, the Pennsbury School Board and administration are aware of the difficulties that the Borough of Morrisville School District face," Long said. "However, as far as I know there are not any official initiatives or proposals to consider at this time."
Greg Lucidi, president of the Pennsbury School Board, responded via e-mail on Jan. 27 about Morrisville's invitation for Pennsbury to accept the borough's 9th-to 12th-graders.
"Morrisville is in an extremely difficult situation and I really wish we could help, but Pennsbury is not in the position to absorb 300 additional students at our high school," Lucidi responded.
The Pennsbury High School campus has room for 3,414 students and is approaching that limit with roughly 3,400 students currently enrolled.
"I really do not believe this idea is feasible at Pennsbury," he continued. "We have our own set of problems and issues and we are working very hard to solve them. We simply cannot add to our list of challenges right now."
The question is whether Pennsbury facilities can handle the additional students. Space constraints are a concern, according to the school board president.
"Prior to the addition and renovations at Pennsbury High School West, we were experiencing space problems," Lucidi explained. "We added to the school and our student population now fits comfortably in the space available.
"Adding 300 students to the school would in my opinion cause us to be right back where we were before the additional space was added," he wrote.
When asked whether the issue should go to voter referendum, Lucidi said, "Unfortunately, we cannot use voter referendum to make our decisions for us. We were elected by the public to make and enforce school policy.
"We do take public comments into consideration when making decisions, but ultimately it's based upon what we believe to be in the best interests of both our students and our taxpayers," he maintained.
"If our state representatives want to get involved in this issue, they should work directly with Morrisville to help them solve their problems instead of shifting the burden to neighboring districts," he wrote.
The cost to educate a secondary-level student in Pennsbury School District is $12,011. In Morrisville, it is $14,215.
Asbestos? Yes. Is there a Danger? Um...
From the BCCT.
School is open today.
School will be open for students at MSHS
February 10, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today, I closed the Middle/Senior High School when I was informed that an electrical contractor working in the building may have drilled into asbestos above the ceiling tiles in two different areas of the school. I took this proactive move because I felt it was important to bring in our environmental consultant to test the surface and air quality in the building.
This evening around 8:45 p.m. I spoke with our environmental consultants who reported that all air samples taken within the impacted areas revealed concentrations well less than the clearance criteria established by the EPA. Additionally, surface samples collected in the same impact areas revealed levels of none detected for asbestos content.
Based on the discussion with our environmental consultant, the Middle/Senior High School will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11.
The environmental consultant will provide a written report tomorrow by noon. You will be able to review the document in the business office. I will also have the report posted on the district’s website.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience that you experienced today because of the closing. I appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth Hammond Yonson Superintendent Morrisville School District
Three schools built in the 1950's? It's a pretty certain bet that there's asbestos present. Let's see the district's asbestos management plan.
Ask the board members themselves at the Infrastructure Committee meeting tonight. The meeting is only a few doors away from the administration offices. They should be able to pull out that plan in a jiffy.
Asbestos concern sends students home early
By MANASEE WAGH
The high school will reopen today, one day after it was discovered that electrical work in the building has dislodged asbestos. The district superintendent said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
Morrisville students had to deal with another interruption to their educations Tuesday.
The kids were sent home early after electrical work in the high school dislodged asbestos within the building's walls.
A contractor doing wiring work in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School bored six small holes high inside walls he reached behind ceiling tiles in two hallways Monday night.
The incident came to light during a construction meeting Tuesday morning. The contractor told officials he didn't tell anyone Monday because he didn't know he had penetrated the asbestos-containing material.
After a precautionary test by the Trenton firm Environmental Connections showed positive for asbestos later Tuesday morning, the school district dismissed students for the day. Parents were notified by phone and e-mail of the early dismissal.
Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said late Tuesday night the school will reopen today after further air and surface test reports by Environmental Connections revealed no asbestos danger in the building.
Yonson said the school district also contacted an asbestos specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bucks County Health Department and Bob Seward, the code official for the borough.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Seward, health department or EPA officials for comment Tuesday.
"The environmental guy says it's nothing," Yonson said, because it appears the asbestos fibers didn't migrate from inside the wall. Because of that, she said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
She also said it couldn't have gotten into the ventilation system because the building uses unit ventilators in each room, and there was no ductwork involved. Yonson said the school was evacuated and a contractor started cleaning the area as a precaution.
The EPA started doing surface and air testing Tuesday afternoon, said Tim Lastichen, the school district's director of facilities.
"We have taken a very proactive approach. The health and welfare of our students and staff are very important to us and we have done everything possible to ensure that the building is safe," Yonson said Tuesday afternoon.
Asbestos is a fibrous natural mineral that was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known.
It becomes dangerous when microscopic particles flake off and become airborne, lodging in the lungs.
Asbestos exposure can lead to lung scarring and lung cancers, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
Dave May, the school district's head of public safety, said the evacuation went quickly and smoothly and children were dispatched home safely.
Some elementary students were also in the building, where they've been placed for the rest of the school year after M.R. Reiter Elementary was closed due to a December furnace explosion.
Pam Scott, the parent of an eighth-grade student attending classes in the high school, was distressed after hearing that the district didn't discover the asbestos problem until Tuesday morning.
She has four other children who will attend the high school in the future.
"This involves small children. I'm so upset [about asbestos] just being in the building. The contractors should know this stuff; they should be aware of it," she said.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools,many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
THE ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT RULES REQUIRE SCHOOLS WHERE ASBESTOS MATERIALS ARE PRESENT TO TAKE ACTIONS TO:
Perform an original inspection and re-inspection every three years of asbestos-containing material
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
Ensure that properly accredited professionals perform inspections and response actions and prepare management plans
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training
Schools also must comply with the Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants which requires that owners or operators of facilities notify the appropriate authority (usually the state air pollution control agency) before demolishing or renovating facilities.
If minimum amounts of regulated asbestos will be removed or disturbed, the owner/operator must adequately wet and carefully remove the asbestos components, keeping them wet until collected for disposal, and then disposing of the asbestos waste in accordance with the regulations.
Parents, teachers, and school employees, or their representatives, have the right to inspect the school’s asbestos management plan. The school must make the plan available within a reasonable amount of time.
The asbestos management plan must be updated with information collected during periodic surveillance every 6 months, re-inspections every 3 years, and every time a response action is taken within the school.Also, records of annual notifications to parents, teachers, and staff concerning the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan must be included within the asbestos management plan files.
Federal law only requires testing following an asbestos repair or removal activity to determine whether the activity has been properly completed. This is done by measuring the amount of asbestos in the air where the repair or removal activity has taken place.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
School is open today.
School will be open for students at MSHS
February 10, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today, I closed the Middle/Senior High School when I was informed that an electrical contractor working in the building may have drilled into asbestos above the ceiling tiles in two different areas of the school. I took this proactive move because I felt it was important to bring in our environmental consultant to test the surface and air quality in the building.
This evening around 8:45 p.m. I spoke with our environmental consultants who reported that all air samples taken within the impacted areas revealed concentrations well less than the clearance criteria established by the EPA. Additionally, surface samples collected in the same impact areas revealed levels of none detected for asbestos content.
Based on the discussion with our environmental consultant, the Middle/Senior High School will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11.
The environmental consultant will provide a written report tomorrow by noon. You will be able to review the document in the business office. I will also have the report posted on the district’s website.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience that you experienced today because of the closing. I appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth Hammond Yonson Superintendent Morrisville School District
Three schools built in the 1950's? It's a pretty certain bet that there's asbestos present. Let's see the district's asbestos management plan.
Ask the board members themselves at the Infrastructure Committee meeting tonight. The meeting is only a few doors away from the administration offices. They should be able to pull out that plan in a jiffy.
Asbestos concern sends students home early
By MANASEE WAGH
The high school will reopen today, one day after it was discovered that electrical work in the building has dislodged asbestos. The district superintendent said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
Morrisville students had to deal with another interruption to their educations Tuesday.
The kids were sent home early after electrical work in the high school dislodged asbestos within the building's walls.
A contractor doing wiring work in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School bored six small holes high inside walls he reached behind ceiling tiles in two hallways Monday night.
The incident came to light during a construction meeting Tuesday morning. The contractor told officials he didn't tell anyone Monday because he didn't know he had penetrated the asbestos-containing material.
After a precautionary test by the Trenton firm Environmental Connections showed positive for asbestos later Tuesday morning, the school district dismissed students for the day. Parents were notified by phone and e-mail of the early dismissal.
Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said late Tuesday night the school will reopen today after further air and surface test reports by Environmental Connections revealed no asbestos danger in the building.
Yonson said the school district also contacted an asbestos specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bucks County Health Department and Bob Seward, the code official for the borough.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Seward, health department or EPA officials for comment Tuesday.
"The environmental guy says it's nothing," Yonson said, because it appears the asbestos fibers didn't migrate from inside the wall. Because of that, she said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
She also said it couldn't have gotten into the ventilation system because the building uses unit ventilators in each room, and there was no ductwork involved. Yonson said the school was evacuated and a contractor started cleaning the area as a precaution.
The EPA started doing surface and air testing Tuesday afternoon, said Tim Lastichen, the school district's director of facilities.
"We have taken a very proactive approach. The health and welfare of our students and staff are very important to us and we have done everything possible to ensure that the building is safe," Yonson said Tuesday afternoon.
Asbestos is a fibrous natural mineral that was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known.
It becomes dangerous when microscopic particles flake off and become airborne, lodging in the lungs.
Asbestos exposure can lead to lung scarring and lung cancers, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
Dave May, the school district's head of public safety, said the evacuation went quickly and smoothly and children were dispatched home safely.
Some elementary students were also in the building, where they've been placed for the rest of the school year after M.R. Reiter Elementary was closed due to a December furnace explosion.
Pam Scott, the parent of an eighth-grade student attending classes in the high school, was distressed after hearing that the district didn't discover the asbestos problem until Tuesday morning.
She has four other children who will attend the high school in the future.
"This involves small children. I'm so upset [about asbestos] just being in the building. The contractors should know this stuff; they should be aware of it," she said.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools,many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
THE ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT RULES REQUIRE SCHOOLS WHERE ASBESTOS MATERIALS ARE PRESENT TO TAKE ACTIONS TO:
Perform an original inspection and re-inspection every three years of asbestos-containing material
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
Ensure that properly accredited professionals perform inspections and response actions and prepare management plans
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training
Schools also must comply with the Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants which requires that owners or operators of facilities notify the appropriate authority (usually the state air pollution control agency) before demolishing or renovating facilities.
If minimum amounts of regulated asbestos will be removed or disturbed, the owner/operator must adequately wet and carefully remove the asbestos components, keeping them wet until collected for disposal, and then disposing of the asbestos waste in accordance with the regulations.
Parents, teachers, and school employees, or their representatives, have the right to inspect the school’s asbestos management plan. The school must make the plan available within a reasonable amount of time.
The asbestos management plan must be updated with information collected during periodic surveillance every 6 months, re-inspections every 3 years, and every time a response action is taken within the school.Also, records of annual notifications to parents, teachers, and staff concerning the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan must be included within the asbestos management plan files.
Federal law only requires testing following an asbestos repair or removal activity to determine whether the activity has been properly completed. This is done by measuring the amount of asbestos in the air where the repair or removal activity has taken place.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Bristol Township School District asbestos abatement project
From the BCCT.
Ironic?
Bristol Township School District to begin five-year asbestos abatement project
Posted in News on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm by Joan Hellyer
The Bristol Township School District plans this summer to begin a five-year asbestos-removal effort in several of its schools, a district spokeswoman said today.
The school system did most of its asbestos abatement in the 1970s by removing all asbestos insulation and some tile flooring, Spokeswoman Eileen Kelliher said. However, some asbestos-containing tiles remain in the floors of Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School and the district’s nine elementary schools.
The asbestos, once widely used in building materials, can become hazardous and pose an increased health risk if its fibers become airborne, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“[In Bristol Township’s case], the tiles are less than one percent asbestos and are only a concern when they are cracked or broken,” Kelliher said. “Nevertheless, we will be treating their removal with the utmost care, using the services and advice of experts in this field.”
The plan is to do two schools each summer break over the next five years. Clara Barton and Maple Shade elementary schools are set to undergo the asbestos removal this summer, officials said.
It should cost about $52,000 to do the abatement at Barton and about $120,000 for the older Maple Shade, said district officials during the school board’s planning session Monday night
The board will be asked during its Feb. 23 meeting to let administrators solicit bids for the project, according to an agenda reviewed by board members Monday night.
Ironic?
Bristol Township School District to begin five-year asbestos abatement project
Posted in News on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm by Joan Hellyer
The Bristol Township School District plans this summer to begin a five-year asbestos-removal effort in several of its schools, a district spokeswoman said today.
The school system did most of its asbestos abatement in the 1970s by removing all asbestos insulation and some tile flooring, Spokeswoman Eileen Kelliher said. However, some asbestos-containing tiles remain in the floors of Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School and the district’s nine elementary schools.
The asbestos, once widely used in building materials, can become hazardous and pose an increased health risk if its fibers become airborne, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“[In Bristol Township’s case], the tiles are less than one percent asbestos and are only a concern when they are cracked or broken,” Kelliher said. “Nevertheless, we will be treating their removal with the utmost care, using the services and advice of experts in this field.”
The plan is to do two schools each summer break over the next five years. Clara Barton and Maple Shade elementary schools are set to undergo the asbestos removal this summer, officials said.
It should cost about $52,000 to do the abatement at Barton and about $120,000 for the older Maple Shade, said district officials during the school board’s planning session Monday night
The board will be asked during its Feb. 23 meeting to let administrators solicit bids for the project, according to an agenda reviewed by board members Monday night.
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