Goshen Board declares emergency asbestos remediation at Main Street building and authorizes expedited work

GOSHEN, N.Y. — The Goshen Central School District Board of Education on July 14 declared an emergency asbestos abatement and authorized expedited remediation at the district’s Main Street administration building after an inspection found asbestos-containing mortar in a ceiling plenum.

The resolution, read into the record and approved by roll call voice, recorded the district’s commissioning of an engineering inspection and environmental testing that confirmed asbestos in masonry mortar used as a fire-stop assembly. The board determined the abatement constitutes an “ordinary contingent expense” under Education Law and an emergency under the General Municipal Law, authorized payments from the general fund and directed the superintendent to file necessary paperwork with the State Education Department to proceed on an expedited basis.

The motion text described the condition: inspectors found mortar loose in the ceiling plenum and advised probing and removal of unstable material to prevent future falling hazards; subsequent environmental testing confirmed asbestos-containing material. The resolution also authorized air testing and monitoring, described the project as a Type II action under SEQRA and allowed transfers between appropriations to fund the work.

Board members voted in favor; the record shows the chair called for “All those in favor?” and the board responded “Aye.” There was no named roll-call tally in the public transcript. The board president stated, “In case you forgot, we are approving the emergency work.”

The resolution cited legal authorities and regulatory provisions by name during discussion, including Education Law provisions and commissioner regulations identified in the motion text. The superintendent was authorized to contract for remediation services and to arrange related budget transfers.

The board’s action follows a reported incident in September 2024 when masonry and mortar became dislodged and fell through a suspended ceiling; follow-up inspections and testing determined that additional mortar was present in the plenum space and recommended abatement.

Work overseen by the district’s facilities team and contracted environmental consultants is expected to include removal of identified asbestos-containing materials, air monitoring and other remediation steps the state requires for expedited approvals.