Asbestos closes 
Fulton 
school

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

FULTON – Fulton High School evacuated at 12:15 p.m. Friday after public health officials determined a patch of mysteriously removed asbestos tiles posed a health risk to students.

District administration then decided to cancel Friday’s homecoming football game and move today’s homecoming dance to Fulton Middle School because health officials considered the entire building compromised.

Administration plans to work around the clock with a battery of environmental health and asbestos experts this Columbus Day weekend to reopen the building Tuesday morning.

After school on Thursday, a high school staffer took it upon himself to peel about 100 tiles from a classroom floor, an unauthorized and unexpected move that the building’s head custodian noticed while making rounds before school Friday, said Jane Bauer, River Bend School District superintendent.

Many older buildings contain vinyl asbestos tiles, which pose few health risks when properly maintained through regular waxing and cleaning, according to the Department of Public Health.

By law, disturbing the tiles in schools, through renovations or removal – such as what happened Thursday – requires asbestos abatement experts and consultation with environmental health experts.

“There is potential because it is asbestos tile,” Bauer said. “But [vinyl floor] tile, compared to ceiling tile, is less likely to be frayed or have fibers that are loose.”

Bauer declined to identify the individual responsible or say what his job was. She also declined to say what, if any, disciplinary action may be taken.

Bauer did say the person owned up to removing the tiles when confronted and said he thought he was helping.

Administration knew of the potential health risk before school, but wanted input from the Illinois Department of Public Health and an asbestos abatement company before ordering the 330 or so students out of the building, Bauer said.

“Closing school is a big decision,” Bauer said. “We’re taking all the necessary precautions ... and not making light of it.”

In addition to IDPH environmental health experts top administration from the Whiteside County Regional Office of Education and architects specializing in asbestos abatement also visited Fulton High on Friday, Bauer said.

Over the weekend, Bauer hopes that architects can draft an abatement plan, IDPH can sign off on it, environmental health can conduct air quality tests and the school can reopen.

“We’re going to have a busy weekend,” Bauer said.

How much cleanup and repairs will cost the district remains to be seen, but Bauer knows it won’t come cheap.

“My past experience with asbestos abatement it that it is very expensive,” she said.