My Life for the Past Few Days
Don't get me started. Life has been nothing but chaos!
Steel Valley reverses itself, closes school for asbestos
Friday, September 19, 2008
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For the second time this week, Steel Valley Superintendent William Kinavey closed Park Elementary School in Munhall after parents expressed outrage that they weren't notified earlier of the asbestos in the roof.
The school will remain closed until the asbestos is removed. Starting Monday, Park's 350 students in grades 1-5 will attend half-day school sessions at the district's other elementary school, Barrett in Homestead.
Dr. Kinavey said Barrett students will attend a morning session at their school and then be dismissed to accommodate Park students who will attend an afternoon session.
Those arrangements will continue until all asbestos is removed from the Park building and tests are taken to make sure there is no asbestos in the air or on any surfaces in the building.
The superintendent's decision was made last night during what was supposed to be an informational meeting for parents and staff with Don Horgan, asbestos supervisor for the Allegheny County Health Department, and Joseph Grad, of the firm Environmental Safety & Training. Mr. Grad's firm tested eight core samples of the roof, six of which tested positive for asbestos.
The meeting quickly turned confrontational after parents found out that Mr. Grad had informed district officials there was asbestos in the roof eight days before the district sent a letter to parents informing them of the situation.
Parents were also enraged that only two rooms and a hallway at Park were tested. Those tests came back negative and the results of those tests are what prompted Dr. Kinavey's previous plan to reopen Park today.
Parents repeatedly asked why they weren't informed earlier.
Dr. Kinavey did not directly answer that question nor did Mark Cherpak, director of operational services.
Mr. Grad said his firm had its test results on the roof's core samples back on Sept. 5 and that he left messages with the district that day. He said he spoke personally with district officials on Sept. 8 and forwarded an e-mail report indicating there was asbestos in the roof. He said he instructed district officials to stop work on the roof and to contact the county Health Department.
The district did not contact the health department until Sept. 11.
In addition, Acting Board President Pam Terrick said she instructed administrators to write a letter to Park parents on Sept. 9 informing them of the asbestos in the roof. She said she gave that directive after Mr. Cherpak informed the board of the situation.
But Dr. Kinavey said he didn't send the letter because he didn't want to "panic" the community.
Health department officials have said the asbestos in the roofing material is not airborne and is highly unlikely to cause health problems.
It's uncertain how long the school will be closed. District officials initially said it would take 18 days to remove the asbestos, but last night Dr. Kinavey said it might only take eight days, now that children will not be in the building and work may be done more quickly.
Mary Niederberger can be reached at mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512.
First published on September 19, 2008 at 12:00 am
Steel Valley reverses itself, closes school for asbestos
Friday, September 19, 2008
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For the second time this week, Steel Valley Superintendent William Kinavey closed Park Elementary School in Munhall after parents expressed outrage that they weren't notified earlier of the asbestos in the roof.
The school will remain closed until the asbestos is removed. Starting Monday, Park's 350 students in grades 1-5 will attend half-day school sessions at the district's other elementary school, Barrett in Homestead.
Dr. Kinavey said Barrett students will attend a morning session at their school and then be dismissed to accommodate Park students who will attend an afternoon session.
Those arrangements will continue until all asbestos is removed from the Park building and tests are taken to make sure there is no asbestos in the air or on any surfaces in the building.
The superintendent's decision was made last night during what was supposed to be an informational meeting for parents and staff with Don Horgan, asbestos supervisor for the Allegheny County Health Department, and Joseph Grad, of the firm Environmental Safety & Training. Mr. Grad's firm tested eight core samples of the roof, six of which tested positive for asbestos.
The meeting quickly turned confrontational after parents found out that Mr. Grad had informed district officials there was asbestos in the roof eight days before the district sent a letter to parents informing them of the situation.
Parents were also enraged that only two rooms and a hallway at Park were tested. Those tests came back negative and the results of those tests are what prompted Dr. Kinavey's previous plan to reopen Park today.
Parents repeatedly asked why they weren't informed earlier.
Dr. Kinavey did not directly answer that question nor did Mark Cherpak, director of operational services.
Mr. Grad said his firm had its test results on the roof's core samples back on Sept. 5 and that he left messages with the district that day. He said he spoke personally with district officials on Sept. 8 and forwarded an e-mail report indicating there was asbestos in the roof. He said he instructed district officials to stop work on the roof and to contact the county Health Department.
The district did not contact the health department until Sept. 11.
In addition, Acting Board President Pam Terrick said she instructed administrators to write a letter to Park parents on Sept. 9 informing them of the asbestos in the roof. She said she gave that directive after Mr. Cherpak informed the board of the situation.
But Dr. Kinavey said he didn't send the letter because he didn't want to "panic" the community.
Health department officials have said the asbestos in the roofing material is not airborne and is highly unlikely to cause health problems.
It's uncertain how long the school will be closed. District officials initially said it would take 18 days to remove the asbestos, but last night Dr. Kinavey said it might only take eight days, now that children will not be in the building and work may be done more quickly.
Mary Niederberger can be reached at mniederberger@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512.
First published on September 19, 2008 at 12:00 am
Comments