Williamsport High School will begin the academic year with virtual learning as its building undergoes an extensive asbestos removal and restoration process, Washington County Public Schools announced this week. School officials said the work could take until the end of the second marking period in January.
The decision follows the discovery of asbestos fibers during summer renovations. In a July message to families, the district said tests found “a limited amount of asbestos fibers” on the school’s upper and lower levels while construction was underway. Projects that began a month earlier were paused after the results came in.
Asbestos is a class of minerals that form strong, thin fibers that can’t be seen with the naked eye, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though the United States has banned many applications of asbestos, older buildings can still contain asbestos in insulation, roofing, plaster, floor tiles and other construction materials. Breathing in the fibers can cause lung conditions like cancer or scarring inside the lungs, the agency says.
Williamsport High School was built in 1970, according to documents from the district, before federal efforts to ban asbestos began.
“We know this news may be disappointing and even unsettling,” school officials said in a statement. “Please know this decision was not made lightly. Our goal is to ensure that when we welcome students and staff back into the building, we are providing a cleaned and restored learning environment.”
WCPS officials said they hope to identify an in-person location for two priority student populations: those who receive special education services and multilingual learners. Families of those 150 students will receive details once plans are finalized.
In the meantime, the school community will still see activity at the high school as contractors and environmental consultants carry out the cleanup. The district said it is working with experts to ensure the process meets professional standards while minimizing the time students are out of the building.
While classes will be online, some school traditions will continue. Back-to-school night will be held in the school stadium, and homecoming is still planned, with a new location to be announced.
Fall sports practices will begin Aug. 13 as scheduled, with athletes not needing to enter the building. Outdoor fall athletic events will take place in the stadium, and officials are exploring other venues for volleyball games. Band camp and other extracurricular programs will also move forward.
More details about virtual learning schedules and technology access are expected in the coming days.
Karen Selby, a registered nurse and patient advocate with The Mesothelioma Center, said many schools across the United States still contain asbestos because they were built decades ago, when the material was widely used in residential and commercial construction. Asbestos-containing materials are generally safe if left intact, but can pose serious health risks when they deteriorate or are disturbed, according to Selby.
“One of the most significant concerns is that children and young adults are more vulnerable to asbestos exposure,” Selby told The Baltimore Sun. “Their lungs and immune systems are still developing. Their longer life expectancy increases the risk that diseases could develop decades later.”
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