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Williamsport High gym reopens as asbestos remediation continues; district estimates nearly $3M total
Summary
District officials reported the Williamsport High School gym reopened after initial TEM air sampling detected no asbestos fibers; extensive duct cleaning, wipe sampling, ceiling replacement and other remediation remain underway with estimated costs presented and a target to return to the building by Jan. 21, 2026, contingent on remaining work.
Washington County Public Schools staff updated the Board of Education on Nov. 18 about ongoing asbestos remediation at Williamsport High School and said the gymnasium has reopened after initial clearance testing showed nondetect results on TEM air samples.
Chief operating staff described the remediation program in detail: industrial-hygiene testing is being led by consultants (Boggs Environmental Consultants, estimated cost about $485,000), duct cleaning and asbestos abatement work is underway (district estimate roughly $2.9 million), and emergency procurements for duct cleaning were authorized to keep work moving. Contractors performing duct cleaning (Mission Contracting among firms discussed) provided a quoted duct-cleaning estimate of about $1.36 million for that scope.
Officials described the district's testing approach: TEM (transmission electron microscope) air sampling is the clearance standard; staff said they had nondetect results on initial gym samples and aim for an average below the regulatory threshold of 70 structures per square millimeter across samples. Wipe sampling inside ductwork also showed no asbestos fibers, the district said; board members were told wipe sampling has no formal EPA clearance standard but was used for added assurance.
Work in the building is staged with containment walls and negative-pressure cleaning of ducts; ceiling tile replacement and other construction are under way. Staff said kitchen and cafeteria duct cleaning was scheduled to be completed before Thanksgiving, with continued work in the auditorium and upper levels to follow, and that they were proceeding systematically to be able to reopen additional sections once clearances are achieved.
District staff set a target date of Jan. 21, 2026, for returning students to the building at the start of second semester but cautioned that substantial work remains and the date is tentative. Officials emphasized they were striving for nondetect results and full clearance above the regulatory minimums.
Board members asked for clarity on costs and schedules; staff provided estimated contract figures for the primary remediation components but said the overall figure may fluctuate. The board thanked facilities teams and contractors for the pace of work and recognized community cooperation in supporting alternate arrangements for students while cleanup continues.
The district will return with updated sampling results and schedule confirmations as remediation proceeds.
