PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Students at West Oak Lane’s Building 21 high school went back to classes Tuesday after a two-month asbestos closure, but their return didn’t last long.
On Wednesday, the school closed again. This time, the closure was due to water damage.
According to a Tuesday night letter from School District of Philadelphia Chief Operating Officer Oz Hill, plaster fell from the third floor of a stairwell because of water damage, likely from this weekend’s rains. The district also found water damage in a second stairwell.
Those stairwells were obviously closed off, and without proper exits, the school is not permitted to open.
Hill said no classrooms or spaces on the third floor were affected.
The school building shut down on March 1 because of newly discovered asbestos damage. Students were asked to report to Strawberry Mansion High School instead, but when parents complained, they were given the option of attending classes virtually.
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The district said it was previously aware of asbestos in Building 21 and blamed the lack of action on poor record-keeping.
The 400 Building 21 students will learn remotely through at least Friday. The district will provide an update at that time.
At least six school buildings have closed this academic year due to asbestos damage.
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