PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two more Philadelphia schools will be closing due to asbestos concerns.
Students at Frankford High School will not have school on Monday, April 10. Virtual classes will begin Tuesday, April 11. Mitchell Elementary School will shift to virtual learning or “swing space learning” for the remainder of the school year.
According to officials from the School District of Philadelphia, plaster at the schools had been cleared for decades with “no asbestos detected” based on tests conducted in the 1990s. But recent tests found that certain plaster walls and ceilings do, in fact, contain asbestos.
In March, Building 21 and Simon Gratz Mastery Charter closed when asbestos was detected in the buildings. This pushed for further sampling in other schools, including Frankford high and Mitchell elementary, two of the oldest buildings in the district.
The School District said it is not yet clear why the historic records contradict recent sampling results, noting that since the walls and ceilings had been documented as “not containing asbestos,” they had not been included in past Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) inspections. But they will be included in all instructions going forward.
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They say they expect in the coming weeks and months more damaged asbestos will be detected.
“This is not an indication of the program failing, but rather the program is working to protect health and safety through the identification and management of environmental concerns. This improved inspection process – while revealing environmental hazards – is working as it should throughout the District.”
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, a Frankford High School alumnus, feels this is unacceptable.
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“Students, teachers, and families are notified of these changes last minute. And while the Frankford and Mitchell communities are making plans for next week, other families are wondering if their school will be next.”
District leaders will be meeting over the weekend to finalize plans and will update affected school communities.