New Jersey High School Fears Asbestos

January 18, 2007 - Students at Jackson (NJ) Memorial High School have officially dubbed the former C-Wing of their school as “the Cancer Wing,” thanks to myriad concerns about asbestos in that portion of their school.

According to a report in the Asbury Park Press, both students and teachers have expressed continuous concern about the presence of asbestos in the school.  Two incidents in particular raised concern among faculty, staff, and students.

First, a teacher found a small piece of asbestos in her classroom last October, after being assured that all asbestos had been removed from the school.  Secondly, a student stumbled upon a report from the EPA lying on a table in the faculty room, listing numerous lapses in asbestos removal protocol at the school.

Officials say there’s no reason for concern as 50 air quality tests have shown that the air at the school is free of asbestos fibers.  "It's bordering on comical how many (air) samples have been taken," said Jay Murray, president of Environmental Design Inc., the company that conducted the air tests.

As for the Environmental Protection Agency report that cited the school for various infractions, Murray adds, they amount to minor paperwork concerns.

School board members have assured parents, faculty, and students that they will work together to address concerns.  Many students, however, say they’ve been living in fear of coming in contact with asbestos during their daily rituals at the school.

The teachers naturally felt horrible about not being able to speak about what's going on. The students were in the dark. It created an air of mystery and paranoia," said student Tom Ranzweiler, who found the EPA reports. Students add that some teachers are reluctant to speak out for fear of reprisal.