In Guilford County, North Carolina, it’s been more than 30 years since many of the district’s 91 school buildings have been renovated. So when asbestos was exposed during a rejuvenation project at one county school, officials realized that it was time to address the hazardous material district-wide, especially after parents got wind of the exposure.
An article in the News & Record reports that parents of children at Allen Middle School became alarmed upon learning about the exposed asbestos in several areas where carpet was being replaced. One parent noted that he wouldn’t have known anything about the issue had he not been directly involved in working at the school. Other parents, he said, were not notified at all.
“This summer, we replaced old carpet in the media center, two computer labs and office areas. Since the carpet was older, the adhesive used when it was installed contained asbestos,” Gerald Greeson, the district’s maintenance director, said in an emailed response to parents and to the media. “Some areas also had older tiles under the carpet, which also contained asbestos.”
McElroy Hughes, the parent who tipped off others about the situation, says he’s concerned about the extent of the removal effort and worries that there may be risks to students when they return to school later this summer, such as lingering asbestos dust that could be inhaled by those who regularly occupy the building.
“We’re being left out of the loop.” Hughes told the media.
But Greeson maintains that students, faculty, and staff inside the 30 buildings in question will be safe when they return. He notes that they are closely following state guidelines for asbestos removal.
“Air quality is monitored before, during and after the work is completed,” he said, adding that the state requires permits, and “the materials are removed by certified, professional environmental experts who are licensed in this specialized area.”
In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act governing the management of asbestos in schools, Greeson adds that the Guilford County District buildings are inspected every three years.