Students Relocated Due to Asbestos

PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Officials of the Riverside Local Schools District have come up with a plan on where students will begin fall classes after asbestos was discovered earlier this week at Hale Elementary.

“It was a challenge, because we found out about this Monday morning,” said superintendent Jim Kalis.

The asbestos was discovered after some construction workers accidentally loosened some floor tiles.

The old insulating material is not dangerous when it’s sealed, but has been linked to cancer once it’s airborne.

Test results this week were mostly negative, but some spots at the school did show the presence of asbestos.

“As a precaution, we chose to close the building down,” Kalis said.

Fourth and fifth graders from Hale will now go to a district middle school.

Kindergarten through third grade will hold classes in the education wing of the Painesville Assembly of God church.

Kalis said the asbestos removal is expected to take a month or two.

All students will be offered transportation to their alternative school locations until Hale is reopened.