Hamilton’s public school board is being criticized for not being more forthcoming about ongoing renovations at Waterdown’s Mary Hopkins Elementary School that have prompted concerns about the potential disruption of areas with asbestos.
Michelle Pickett-Hershey, vice-president of the Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers’ Local, said her union has heard from many members worried about the high levels of dust the work is creating at the 104-year-old Mill Street school.
She said there is also confusion about where asbestos is present because a standard inventory available to teachers lacks the details of a more thorough assessment provided to the contractor for the $2.5-million renovations.
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Scheduled to continue on evenings and weekends into June, the work involves the installation a new heating and ventilation system.
“Teachers are told, do not disrupt this wall or this surface or behind this area, and then they see those areas being disrupted,” Pickett-Hershey said. “There’s just that lack of clarity and communication that’s causing a lot of concern.”
In response to a reporter’s inquiries, the board provided a copy of a Feb. 8 letter to parents from school superintendent Nicole Lee assuring them “the building is safe.”
The letter states that a ministry of labour inspector had visited the school earlier that week and “no issues have been found up to this point,” allowing work to continue.
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The board has also retained an environmental consultant to ensure areas with asbestos are properly identified and work has been completed safely, the letter states.
“Should the unexpected happen, where asbestos is unintentionally disturbed in the school, (the board) will notify the school community. A decision would be made to either move students and staff to another area or close the facility,” the letter states.
“An investigation would occur to determine the potential for exposure. Air sampling and cleaning measures would also take place to ensure that student and staff health and safety is maintained.”
A parent who asked not to be named because they feared repercussions first contacted a reporter about the renovations, expressing concern that teachers had been calling in sick “in large numbers” and that a classroom was so dusty a teacher refused to work there.
Teachers have also been told they may have to move their classrooms to the school’s small gym for up to three weeks at a time, leaving them without internet service and ability to project lessons on a screen, the parent said.
The board provided a one-sentence response to a request for comment on the parent’s concerns, stating “When it comes to disruption to learning, it sounds like some physical education classes at Mary Hopkins were impacted.”
Pickett-Hershey said she can’t comment on teachers calling in sick, but agreed the gym isn’t suitable for classrooms.
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“All of a sudden (we’re told) we can make it work for a little while,” she said. “The teachers will make it work; the board won’t make it work.”
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