Facilities committee orders asbestos sampling and radon mitigation planning after tests show elevated readings in several elementary schools

Groveport Madison Local’s facilities committee heard a report that recent radon testing found elevated readings at multiple elementary school classrooms and that asbestos sampling will be needed before crews can begin mitigation work.

Mister Kreutz, the staff member the committee identified as the day‑to‑day facilities contact, told the group that some rooms at Madison and Asbury — and earlier at Dunlow — showed readings “in the twenties and thirties,” while Sedalia recorded a couple of readings “in the eights” and most other Sedalia values were in the mid‑fours and mid‑sixes. He said some test reports were still drafts awaiting final third‑party verification. "We have some twenties and thirties," Kreutz said, summarizing the highest measured results.

The measurements matter because district policy and industry guidance set a substantially lower benchmark for school averaging; staff described a district practice of using a 4 pCi/L school threshold as the level that prompts mitigation planning. Kreutz told the committee that rooms with readings above that threshold — and especially rooms with averages above about 8 pCi/L — will likely require mitigation systems and that asbestos sampling must be done before contractors open walls or flooring for work.

"We can't break open the walls until we find out what the material in the wall is," Kreutz said, explaining that asbestos sampling determines whether abatement is required before mitigation work.

Committee members pressed staff on alternatives, including enlarging HVAC intake or pursuing broader system upgrades. Staff responded that many of the older elementary schools use single‑classroom units and varied systems that make a full HVAC overhaul expensive and operationally complex; targeted sub‑slab depressurization or point mitigation systems are typically more cost‑effective for radon. One board member noted that introducing more outside air can reduce radon but often undermines heating or cooling efficiency in those buildings.

The committee also discussed indoor air quality procedures and record keeping. Kreutz said the district maintains AHERA documentation (asbestos management records) and that sampling coverage is incomplete: the AHERA plan lists potential asbestos locations, but not every building has had comprehensive sampling. He said sampling results that indicate friable or otherwise hazardous material are entered into the AHERA records.

A mold inspection of portable/modular classrooms was reported to be underway on the night of the meeting; staff said they had performed interim cleaning and would report the inspector’s findings to principals and the committee.

On funding, staff advised that any mitigation and abatement costs would be paid from general operating and capital funds. No firm cost estimates were available; Kreutz said the district will not guess at total expenditures until asbestos sampling returns and mitigation scopes are defined. "It would be inappropriate for me to guess on this because it could be less than Dunlow or more than Dunlow," he said.

The committee asked staff to assemble the final lab reports and proposals for mitigation and abatement and to include a short summary in the next board packet. Committee members agreed to reconvene approximately one month later to review results and potential recommendations for the full board. The committee also suggested inviting HVAC technicians, city facilities staff and other outside specialists to future meetings to help scope work and cost estimates.

The next facilities committee meeting was discussed for the fourth Monday of the month (proposed March 23) to allow time for inspection and sampling results. The committee emphasized that final mitigation work will depend on the asbestos laboratory reports and seasonality constraints for retesting and installation.