Asbestos Found In Cedar Grove Schools: Will North and South End Be Ready For New Year?

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Will Cedar Grove’s North and South End Elementary be rid of asbestos in time for the new school year?

Cedar Grove officials issued an update last week about remediation efforts at the two local elementary schools, which began after workers discovered asbestos during a renovation project to North End’s bathrooms and mechanical systems in July.

“After discovering the asbestos exposure incident in the North End School, the Board of Education immediately directed that the South End School be tested for asbestos exposure,” Cedar Grove Superintendent Michael Fetherman wrote in an Aug. 4 letter to guardians and staff.

“Numerous samples were taken throughout the school and it was determined on Friday, July 29, that South End [also] had elevated levels of asbestos throughout the school,” Fetherman stated. “The building was closed and construction immediately halted.”

Board members have met with environmental consultants who advised them that the exposure in South End is “far less severe” than that at North End, Fetherman stated.

Remediation at South End began on Aug. 3, and board members are hopeful that efforts will be complete for the first day of school, Fetherman said.

“However, at this time we cannot predict if South End will be ready for the first day of school,” Fetherman added. “We anticipate that on or about Aug. 12, we will be able to accurately predict the completion of both the remediation and construction work at South End.”

NORTH END SCHOOL

Fetherman had provided an earlier statement about the discovery of “elevated levels” of asbestos at North End last month.

“Upon discovery, construction was immediately stopped, the building was evacuated and the building was sealed,” Fetherman wrote. “The board then notified the asbestos and indoor air quality specialist to test the air and sample the material that was exposed in the building. The board notified the general contractor of the conditions in the building and issued a stop work order.”

Fetherman said that the board also notified the local police department, the County Office and the Department of Community Affairs of the situation.

“The board anticipates that North End School will not ready for the first day of school,” Fetherman wrote. “We have visited several temporary buildings in the area for lease to house our students and staff for the upcoming school year. We do not know if the students and staff will be out of North End for a few weeks or a few months. Therefore, we must be prepared for the worst-case scenarios.”

Those scenarios may include leasing additional classroom space and hundreds of thousands of dollars of remediation, all unanticipated costs of the initial construction project, Fetherman stated.

“The board has been in touch with the insurance brokers for the district who are working to determine if coverage will be available for these expenses,” the superintendent added.