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Kankakee SD 111 board approves asbestos‑abatement contracts and schedules Edison Primary School closure
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Summary
Board members approved contracts for asbestos testing and removal at Edison School and voted to permanently close Edison Primary School effective June 2, 2026; the board also approved conveying 4.25 acres to IDOT and other routine items.
Kankakee SD 111’s board voted on Jan. 28 to hire contractors to inspect and abate asbestos at Edison School and approved a resolution to permanently close Edison Primary School effective June 2, 2026.
The board approved a contract with Hygineering to manage testing and oversight of a limited abatement in two Edison classrooms and separately approved Safe Engineering Corporation to perform the abatement work. The motions passed on roll calls (each item recorded as 6 ayes, 0 nays; one later vote noted one absence). The Hygineering contract was presented as the company that will handle testing, reporting and project management; Safe Engineering will perform the physical abatement.
Board President Volk thanked administration and Edison staff for managing the transition and open houses, calling the process “arduous and difficult” and praising staff for their work with students during the move. The administration said the targeted abatement will allow staff to verify building conditions and produce options for the board before any further decisions are made about the Edison facility.
The board also approved a resolution to permanently close Edison Primary School with an effective date of June 2, 2026. Trustees said students and staff have been relocated but that the formal closure completes the administrative process; the resolution passed 6–0 with one absence recorded.
The district said the abatement scope is limited to two classrooms where ceilings tested positive for asbestos and that Hygineering will manage testing before Safe Engineering begins removal. Implementation timelines and follow‑up recommendations were described as contingent on Hygineering’s reports.
The board’s approvals were taken alongside other routine business; the meeting record shows motions were moved and seconded from the floor and passed by roll call. The administration indicated it will return to the board with recommendations after the testing and limited abatement are complete.
Next steps: the district will proceed with supervised testing and abatement work, receive Hygineering’s report, and bring options for Edison’s longer‑term disposition back to the board.
