Committee recommends $5,888 change order for Lash Middle demolition after asbestos found

The Buildings, Food Service and Transportation Committee on March 17 recommended that the board approve Change Order #1 for the Lash Middle School demolition, adding $5,888 to cover additional asbestos abatement after new testing found library floor tile contained asbestos.

Miss Shelley, presenting the change order, said the original environmental report completed after Hurricane Ida did not classify the library tile as asbestos. A subcontractor suspected the earlier report was incorrect, had the material retested and the follow-up testing came back positive. The change order covers quarantine and disposal materials, abatement labor, generator rental for three additional days and associated fuel costs, Miss Shelley said.

Committee members asked whether the consultant that performed initial post-Ida inspections — identified in discussion as Ritter Environmental (the district’s contracted environmental consultant) — should bear responsibility; staff said the consultant was hired directly by the district and suggested that with the volume of work post-Ida some items may have been missed. Miss Shelley said the district would consult legal counsel about recourse.

The committee moved the change order (mover Mr. Dehart; second Mr. Harding) and no objection was recorded during the public comment period. The change order was to be funded from the district’s disaster recovery fund and the superintendent or board president was authorized to sign necessary documents.