As the result of a vote on October 1, 2008, the Gemini Junior High School in East Maine will be completely rid of asbestos in approximately four weeks. Officials from the 63rd East Maine School District voted for the complete abatement of the harmful substance located under carpet on the first floor of the school.
Following flooding that occurred due to heavy storms in the area last month the school had to be closed on September 17th and remained closed after cleanup crews discovered asbestos within adhesive.
The 775 students who attend Gemini have been sent to other area schools where many have been grouped together in the school gymnasiums.
The 63rd East Main School District is hoping that Monday the asbestos abatement will begin as soon as possible but issues regarding how to pay for the project must be handled first. The abatement process is expected to cost $259,000.
The district is hoping for the federal government to step in and declare the school a disaster area, in which case the federal government would contribute up to 75% of the cost of the project.
If the federal government cannot provide funding, the school does have other payment options money, including dipping into the district contingency fund, but the district is still keeping their fingers crossed that much-needed government aid will come through.
The school district hopes to have the students back in their own school by November 10th. Parents remain concerned that their children may have been exposed to airborne asbestos at some point, which has been linked to the eventual onset of mesothelioma cancer.
