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School district and Morrow County staff discuss asbestos remediation, testing and use of a $200,000 grant
Summary
County staff and school representatives reviewed testing that found asbestos in ceiling materials and thermal pipe wrapping, discussed refocusing remediation toward an upper-floor preschool, containment and community notification, and noted timing and budget constraints for a $200,000 remediation grant.
County staff and school officials spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing environmental testing and remediation planning for a school building that the district hopes to repurpose for preschool use.
Staff reported 51 test locations with 78 individual tests across layered materials; the testing indicated asbestos primarily in ceiling materials and in thermal pipe wrapping, while window glazing did not test positive. The district requested shifting remediation priority from the basement to the upper floors to make space for preschool operations. Staff and the district discussed containment procedures, potential temporary closure of shared spaces such as the gymnasium during work, and community notification to reassure neighbors about safety and regulatory oversight.
County staff said abatement work would be done in controlled negative‑pressure chambers and follow EPA protocols, and that contractors will use containment to prevent off‑site exposure. The county emphasized it can fund remediation work but not the building’s full refit; staff described leaving the building at a 'bare bones' state after remediation so the district can finish interior restoration to its specifications.
Timing and budget were recurring themes. Staff said the $200,000 funding application was geared to remediation work and that construction could begin as soon as April depending on contractor scheduling and final test results. Staff warned that vibration from floor grinding and other work might disturb ceilings and require additional remediation steps. The board and staff agreed to continue coordinating with the school district, testing firms and abatement contractors to narrow scope, costs and a work schedule.
What’s next: County and school staff will refine remediation scopes and cost estimates, confirm containment and community-notification plans, and return with updated schedules and contract pricing to the county for approval.
