Schools
Decades Later, This Lyons Township High Work Continues
A board member remembers hearing about it when he roamed the halls in 1990
LA GRANGE, IL – Shawn Kennedy, a Lyons Township High School board member, had a flashback Monday when members were asked to approve a nearly $40,000 project to remove asbestos.
"I recall in 1990 when I was roaming the halls of North Campus that there was asbestos removal," he said
In a different role 36 years later, Kennedy is still hearing about it.
Find out what's happening in La Grangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I was shocked to see it still going on decades and decades and decades later," said Kennedy, a 1990 graduate.
Like many pre-1980 buildings, Lyons Township High School has asbestos. As with most places, the material is removed when renovations are planned.
Find out what's happening in La Grangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Undisturbed, asbestos is not dangerous. But once fibers are broken up, they become airborne, risking people's health.
Kennedy asked whether the school knew how much asbestos was left in the buildings.
"Has there ever been a study done?" he asked.
Brian Stachacz, the school's top finance official, said the school hasn't looked at the percentage left, but that could be reviewed.
The school is planning the latest round of asbestos removal in preparation for a heating and air conditioning project.
The board approved spending the money on asbestos removal.
Members also voted to allocate $766,000 for the replacement of various doors and frames throughout North Campus.
The board held its meeting in the new cafeteria at South Campus. The $33 million project included an addition to house the cafeteria and a relocation of the music department to the old cafeteria space.
But the public has been told it shouldn't expect to see any more high-profile projects for at least six years.
The work was largely debt-financed. Because of that, the school won't be able to secure any new debt until 2033, officials say.
"In the absence of anything else, our facilities are going to look the same for the next six years," Superintendent Brian Waterman said at a meeting last month.
But that scenario could change if the school sells its 71 acres in Willow Springs, perhaps bringing in $20 million.
The school may put the property on the market as early as this summer.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
