Iowa Parents Upset About Asbestos Removal

October 25, 2006 - Parents of students at Valley High School in Des Moines are concerned about the removal of asbestos from the school during regular school hours.

A report on KCCI-TV noted that several concerned parents have contacted the school in regards to the asbestos removal procedures due to take place at Valley High while students are in classes. 

The Des Moines school board reports that asbestos was detected in a portion of the school that is set for demolition this spring.  The hazardous material must be removed before demolition can take place.  If it isn’t, damaged asbestos could result in airborne fibers, presenting a danger to workers and others nearby.

Parents have told the media that the plan was kept “hush-hush.”  School board officials say that can’t be further from the truth.

"It's a highly regulated activity, so we will take steps above and beyond what's required to meet the standards and assure not only our students are safe, but our staff is safe, too," said Chief Financial Officer Kurt Subra.

Parents disagreed.  "It's a surprise, and I think it's dangerous. I think we should have had warning or they should have done it in the summer when nobody was in school," said Andrea Murphy, whose teen is a Valley High student.

Officials say the asbestos abatement will start during the winter break and continue through the spring semester.  A public meeting is set for later this month.