Delay in Asbestos Removal at School Granted
Asbestos abatement work scheduled to begin this week at Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin has been postponed until students are released on summer recess. Parents were expressing concern that construction involving the removal of asbestos could cause a potential threat of exposure which could later lead to students developing mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.
Parents of students, one of whom used to be a mesothelioma lawyer, asked the school to wait to begin renovation and removal of asbestos until the students were released to summer break. The school district was refusing to postpone, saying they were taking all precautions and students would not be at risk. The argument was presented to a judge last week after parents and the school could not reach a compromise.
The judge was to hold another court hearing on Monday, however the superintendent, Nick Monroe, of Nicolet Union High School District issued a letter stating that all abatement work would be postpones until at least June 14. Monroe stated that asbestos abatement work would not begin until after the end of final exams, thereby avoiding any disruption in the academic environment of the school.
The superintendent went on to state in a letter to parents that he felt the court would have allowed the school district to begin work even with students in attendance as the work was to be performed by professional, certified abatement workers and all precautions were being taken to ensure student and staff safety.
He states that the decision to delay will most likely lead to higher costs and that completion of the new library and academic support center may not be until after school resumes in the fall. His wish, however, was that learning in the school continue without disruptions.
