Updates

Favorable final test results were received late Friday night, clearing the way for immediate re-occupancy of all floors and rooms of Main Street Middle School. The flooring company has already begun installing sub-flooring on the second floor and will begin work on the third floor today. Plans are for crews to work over the weekend so that tile installation can begin on Monday. We anticipate that the job will be complete by Sunday, August 31, at the latest. The flooring company's intent is to finish the job on Friday, August 29.

The building is now deemed completely safe for general occupancy. However, we realize that some may wish to ask questions or find out more about the nature of asbestos tile and its removal. We have arranged for Chris Crothers of Crothers Environmental Group (our asbestos consultant) to attend an open meeting at MSMS on Wednesday, August 27, at 7 PM, to provide an opportunity for parents and citizens to receive answers to questions they may have.

Thanks to all for your patience and understanding during this trying time. We regret any inconvenience the delayed opening has caused you and your family. We have not decided when to make up the two days of delay but will communicate that as soon as the decision is made.

We are now confident that all schools will open on September 2. No more updates will be published unless something unexpected happens to interfere with those plans.

The company cleaning the third floor has completed its work and arranged for tests to be taken at 8:30 AM on Thursday, August 21st. If the results are satisfactory, this will be the last set of tests needed before we can reclaim the rest of the building. The flooring company is doing its best to complete the project before September 2. We are planning to meet with them once we have full control of the building to firm up the timeline for their work.

As anticipated, we have received final clearance to re-occupy the second (main) floor of Main Street Middle School. All tests came back at or below background levels deemed safe by the Vermont Department of Health. The contractor has removed the barriers. The flooring company will begin work as soon as possible. We have asked for a projected schedule of completion of the project (assuming that we will be able to access the 3rd floor soon). When we receive that schedule we will be in a better position to evaluate the likelihood of opening on September 2.

Results from the testing done by the Certified Industrial Hygienist were filed with the Department of Health this afternoon and indicated NO asbestos was found in any of the samples taken from the ventilation system. Additionally, air samples taken from the second floor (main floor) after cleaning was completed also showed NO asbestos. Finally, we expect results from a test of surfaces from the second floor early in the morning on Wednesday, August 20. Should that result be negative, the Department of Health has authorized removal of the barriers to the second floor and stairwell. This means that work on the second floor could resume and that school personnel would be able to access the second floor without restriction. Cleaning is proceeding on the third floor and is anticipated to be complete Thursday noon. At that time, air and surface tests will be taken on the third floor. Once those results are received, we should be able to more accurately determine if school will be able to open on Tuesday, September 2.

ALL Montpelier Public Schools will delay opening until Tuesday, September 2.

At this time, we are hopeful that MSMS will be able to open on that day, but further delays are possible. UES and MHS will open September 2 even if there are further delays at MSMS.

This decision was made to allow families to plan ahead for what was an increasingly likely case that the MSMS flooring project would not be complete in time to open school on the 28th. Keeping the three schools on the same schedule (or as close as possible if there are further delays at MSMS), considerations around staff that work at more than one school, and giving parents a chance to plan ahead were factors in making the decision to delay all three schools.

The next expected update regarding the opening of MSMS is when we get results from the testing done on the ventilation system -- that should be in the next few days. After that, the next update is expected on Friday, 22 Aug, after testing is completed in the cleaned building. We are working with the flooring contractor to finish the flooring project as quickly as possible after the building is re-opened.

Should testing after the cleanup indicate a more serious problem, we anticipate opening MSMS at an alternative location (we are in talks with Vermont College of Fine Arts) on or near September 2.

Cleanup of the second floor began this morning and cleanup of the third floor will start this afternoon.

URS Corporation of Rutland completed taking samples this afternoon. The samples will be tested for asbestos, and results will be posted here as soon as they are available. Our consultant has identified a firm who will work with us to clean the ducts if that is necessary.

Our final cleanup plan has been submitted to the Department of Health and we are hoping for approval this evening so that cleanup can begin tomorrow morning.

As planned, the Certified Industrial Hygienist from URS Corporation in Rutland visited the school today with our consultant. She has developed a plan and samples will be taken tomorrow. We have submitted our cleanup plan to the Department of Health. As soon as that is approved and the samples are taken tomorrow, we will begin cleanup. We are hoping to complete cleanup and testing of the air about August 21. We have contacted the flooring contractor to begin work on the first floor immediately and to be ready to begin work just as soon as the building becomes available. We are consulting with the contractor to determine if the work can be accomplished in time to allow school to start and will make a decision as soon as possible.

The district has contracted with Certified Industrial Hygienist Maureen Alvarez of UPS Corporation in Rutland. She will be onsite Wednesday morning to draft a plan to sample the ventilation system. Once this plan is approved by the Dept. of Health (probably tomorrow), samples will be taken (likely Thursday AM). At that point, if the Dept of Health approves our plan for cleanup, we can begin cleaning (we have contracted with two asbestos abatement firms for this job in order to get it done as quickly as possible and still be thorough). We anticipate cleanup to be completed in 12 to 14 days, including testing. We then have to complete the flooring project. We will be working with the contractor to begin that work as soon as possible. Updates about the opening of school will be posted here and parents will be notified by letter.

Crothers Environmental Group reports that testing of the area on the bottom floor, which was part of another asbestos removal project, indicates no presence of asbestos. This area includes the hall. This news will allow a visual inspection of the bottom floor by Certified Industrial Hygienist Maureen Alvarez on Wednesday morning and, we are hopeful, will expedite the submission of her plan for testing. With this favorable test result, work on finishing the flooring project on the bottom floor may be able to resume soon.

A letter to all MSMS parents will go out tomorrow, Aug. 6, to provide an update for any who don't have access to the internet or have not visited this page.

The Department of Health has ordered that the district contract with a Certified Industrial Hygienist to collect samples from the ventilation system prior to the beginning of the cleanup process. Though it is believed that the ventilation system was never turned on during the project, there is no way to prove this, so the DOH believes this is a prudent step. The district is working to identify a CIH who can do this work as soon as possible.

Anyone who was in the building during the period July 18 to July 28, 2008, and does not receive a letter by Monday, August 4, 2008, please contact Central Office.

Pam Arnold, Linda Goodell, and Debbie Lorinovich have been temporarily relocated to Central Office, and they can be contacted at their regular phone extensions.