Asbestos incident shuts down school

The Salmon River Central School was closed last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday due to an accidental asbestos release.

On Tuesday evening, contractors working on the school’s reconstruction project mistakenly removed light fixtures that had already been identified as part of a planned asbestos abatement (removal), according to a release from the school’s superintendent Jane Collins.

Asbestos is a mineral known for its resistance to heat and fire. It was used commonly throughout the past century in homes and buildings but it is now proven to be a cause of cancer and other serious ailments if its fibers are inhaled. Existing, unperturbed asbestos does not pose a health risk, but when disturbed the fibers enter the air, putting humans in danger of developing lung-related illnesses. Specialists are required to remove asbestos when a home or building owner desires to do so. The harmful minerals must be removed only by trained professionals.

As Salmon River is undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation, certain areas of the school that were previously treated with asbestos are scheduled to be cleaned up. However, contractors removed light fixtures from the school’s old junior high cafeteria unaware the area was slated for abatement.

“As a result, there was an incidental disturbance,” Collins said in the school’s press release. “We want to assure parents, students and staff that every precaution is being taken. Remedial measures will be put in place before anyone will be allowed into the building. The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.”

The superintendent said a remedial plan was being developed with the Department of Labor and that sampling and testing were occurring at the school to ensure air quality.

Collins said she was assured by the school’s architect and construction management firm and by Atlantic Testing that all of the clean up work would be done in accordance with New York State laws and regulations and that no one would be allowed back into the school before it was deemed safe.

“The school district’s number one concern is always the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff,” Collins said.

The cleanup was completed on Friday and school reopened on Monday. Collins was not available for additional comment.

In unrelated incidences, both the Salmon River campus school and St. Regis Mohawk School experienced heating issues last week. On Wednesday, the Salmon River boiler system malfunctioned, and was thought by parents to be the reason for the school’s closure that day until the school issued a release on Friday regarding the asbestos incident.

On Thursday, the St. Regis Mohawk School closed early due to a boiler malfunction that caused a fuel leak. The problem was quickly addressed but the school was closed Friday to give time for the air to clear out. The New York State Dept. of Environment as well as the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division are aware of the spill and have been monitoring the situation.