Asbestos Discovery Concerns King Intermediate School
Union Advises Teachers To Get Chest X-Rays
POSTED: 9:10 pm HST December 8,
2004
UPDATED: 10:01 am HST December 9,
2004
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KANEOHE, Hawaii -- The discovery of asbestos at King Intermediate School has some parents and teachers worried.The teacher's union is advising its 71 members at the school to get chest X-rays and to file for worker's compensation to cover the cost of the X-ray, KITV 4 News reported.
The community is concerned about whether children and staff were exposed to asbestos that was kicked up during renovation work."I was wondering how long it has been there, especially with the readings being so high," said parent Sheila Pama, whose son's classroom was shut down.On Tuesday, the school closed off building G after test results showed elevated levels of asbestos. Two buildings and one portable classroom are now off limits. Principal Cynthia Chun said she now wants all the facilities on campus checked as a precaution.
EPA Web Site On AsbestosFederal law requires that all schools have an asbestos management plan. The law covers a building's interior, but school officials say the source at King may be on the exterior.Chun said she's investigating a complaint that a vice principal ignored earlier appeals by a teacher to halt the renovation work.KITV4 News was told that the state shut down the work after a teacher complained to the union.Department of Environment officials said they want to avoid similar problems at other schools across the state, and plan to test for asbestos before starting any renovation work.King Intermediate has scheduled a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to answer questions about the status of the renovation work and accompanying health worries. Notice of the meeting will be sent home with students on Thursday.
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WATCH REPORTEPA Web Site On AsbestosFederal law requires that all schools have an asbestos management plan. The law covers a building's interior, but school officials say the source at King may be on the exterior.Chun said she's investigating a complaint that a vice principal ignored earlier appeals by a teacher to halt the renovation work.KITV4 News was told that the state shut down the work after a teacher complained to the union.Department of Environment officials said they want to avoid similar problems at other schools across the state, and plan to test for asbestos before starting any renovation work.King Intermediate has scheduled a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to answer questions about the status of the renovation work and accompanying health worries. Notice of the meeting will be sent home with students on Thursday. Copyright 2005 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
