District pauses COH window replacements after asbestos discovery; stadium, fields near turnover

The Board of Education heard an update on the district’s multi‑phase capital project and was told contractors discovered asbestos-containing material behind existing windows at COH, prompting the district to stop further window removals and shift remaining work to 2026.

The update came during a presentation by Bill Devine of the Palumbo Group, the district’s project manager on the capital program. Devine told the board that phase 1 — districtwide renovations including bathrooms and a loading dock — is complete and that much of phase 2 work, including the new stadium, artificial turf and track, is nearing turnover. “We are officially turning that over on August 15,” Devine said of the stadium, noting punch‑list work remains.

The finding at COH occurred when crews removed aluminum window units and discovered an older wood window system behind them with caulk that tested positive for asbestos. Devine said the caulk tested “hot,” indicating asbestos-containing material (ACM). He described the condition as an unforeseen one that required bringing an abatement contractor back to the site and slowing removal work. “We found an old wood system behind it... the caulk tested at that time, just to be sure and be safe, and it came back hot,” Devine said.

Because the discovery halted the window replacement schedule, the Palumbo Group and district staff recommended a conservative approach: finish the portions of the building already opened and that can be completed for school use, then return to replace the remaining windows in 2026. Devine said the plan is to “stop removing any additional windows. We finish what we have open, complete the interior and exterior of that building, so we can turn it back over to the district.” John (staff member) and other district leaders endorsed that approach during the meeting.

Project highlights reported to the board included: - Phase 1: complete (bathrooms, districtwide renovations). - Phase 2: locker rooms, lobby, stadium and field work — stadium lighting, new bleachers and press box, scoreboard fiber terminations and artificial turf — with a target turnover of Aug. 15 for the stadium; field punch list in progress. - Phase 3: middle school corridor, parking lots, COH windows and bathrooms, and Lee Road parking lot; several elements are substantially complete or near completion.

Devine also gave progress details and percentages the board asked about: Lee Road parking lot and bathrooms were described as about 95% complete; COH bathroom tile work was due to start the Wednesday after the presentation; the middle school gym mechanical equipment was started up the day of the presentation; and the middle school storefront was about 75% complete. Devine said roughly 50% of the COH window work remains unfinished because of the unexpected asbestos removal and that the district intends to return in 2026 to complete the remaining work.

District leaders said materials for the replacement windows have already been purchased and are in district possession. John said the district has discussed contingency plans, including retaining the material should the district need to complete the work by a different contractor next year.

Board members asked about short‑term classroom readiness and bathroom availability. Devine and district staff said they expect the completed areas to be turned over and cleaned in time for the start of school; the district noted that additional operational bathrooms are available in COH even if the slated bathrooms finish “to the wire.”

The presentation noted routine construction issues (a punch list and weather‑dependent seeding of athletic fields) and included an anecdote about wildlife interference during track surfacing. The district said it will provide the Palumbo Group’s slide deck to board members.

The board did not take a formal vote to change the project contract during the meeting; the Palumbo Group’s recommendation to pause further removals and complete the currently opened sections was described as a direction agreed with the district and design team.

The district plans to update the board again as next steps and abatement work proceed.