Teachers And Parents Demand Answers -- MesoLink.org -- 01-02-06

A group of teachers and parents recently confronted school officials with regards to the lack of evacuation during an asbestos clean up at a school. The parents and teachers wanted answers from officials with regards to why the building was not evacuated during the clean up. The clean up involved a small level of asbestos which was found at Shady Side Elementary School.

Parents and teachers were also angry that they were not informed of the problem until two days after the discovery of the asbestos, which was found last month. The incident occurred when an electrical contractor that was working in the school accidentally cut into some asbestos tiling in mid-November.

The open plan structure of the school caused additional concern for parents and teachers, as the lack of separating walls between rooms potentially increased the risk of asbestos contamination quickly spreading throughout the building.

The principle of the school tried to diffuse the situation of the protesting teachers and parents by explaining: "I called the maintenance department and was told there was no immediate danger."