Asbestos Issues Kept Massachusetts School Closed Last Week

Taunton, Massachusetts - May 6, 2009

After building inspectors found a potential asbestos issue in the school, administrators decided to be cautious and sent the students home.

Mayor Charles Crowley said the preliminary tests and inspections indicate that there is likely no threat to the health of students and teachers, but he wants to wait for final written confirmation before allowing the school to reopen.

City building inspectors were conducting a review of the school on Wednesday when they found that some asbestos insulation on a pipe in a basement crawl space was starting to peel.

After the discovery, the Mayor decided to close the school and conduct asbestos air quality tests.

"This is purely precautionary," Crowley said. "We want to make sure we have it in writing."

Depending on the final test results on the asbestos, students could return to the Maxham School as early as May 4th.

Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma later in life. Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is incredibly aggressive. Most sufferers perish from the disease within 2 years of being diagnosed, and many only live a matter of months.

Mayor Charles Crowley said the city is "erring on the side of caution."

"Every old building has asbestos in it," he said. "If it's in good condition, it's not a problem."

The potential asbestos issue at Maxham is the latest event in a series on ongoing concerns related to school buildings. Earlier this year, a comprehensive inspection was required for all city-owned buildings. Many buildings had not been properly inspected in decades.