PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After nearly a month-long asbestos closure, the School District of Philadelphia has given the green light for students and teachers to return to Southwark Elementary School.
While the school, located at 9th and Mifflin streets, will be open for parents and teachers for report card conferences on Monday, the 900 students will not be returning until Tuesday.
Southwark has been closed since late October when crews checking an attic fan discovered dust and debris on a floor known to contain asbestos.
Victoria Flemming, who heads the district's Office of Environmental Management and Services says over the last month the area was sealed off.
"We use a method called enclosure,” she explained, “so we have actually physically built barriers to isolate the attic from the house fan system."
She says air samples collected throughout the process meet city asbestos standards.
Since the closure, students have attended classes in available space at Childs Elementary and South Philadelphia High Schools.
When they return on Tuesday, Flemming says students will see some improvements like fresh coats of paint throughout the building, and new LED lighting on the third floor.
Six Philadelphia school buildings closed for asbestos last school year. Southwark was the first to close this school year.