The Bangor School Department plans to “temporarily” close one of its elementary schools next school year to remediate asbestos found in the roof.
The district will close the Fairmount School, which serves 262 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Bangor’s west side, for the upcoming school year, Superintendent Marie Robinson said in a memo distributed to teachers Tuesday and obtained by the Bangor Daily News. Robinson said it’s safe for students and staff to finish the school year in the building, but it’s unclear what it will take to fully address the asbestos.
“The assessments that were conducted led us to conclude that while we are able to safely finish out the school year, we must temporarily relocate students and staff for the upcoming school year,” her memo said. “This step is necessary so we can properly assess upgrades and complete the recommended work.”
All teachers and employees will continue to be employed next school year, the memo said.
The district found the undisturbed asbestos in the ceilings after a water leak, according to Robinson’s letter to teachers. The memo did not detail specific relocation plans but laid out a timeline to discuss what the next school year might look like for students, staff and teachers in the coming weeks.
It’s expected that by May 13, the Bangor School Committee will review a proposed temporary reorganization plan, the memo said.
The Bangor School Department could not be immediately reached for comment.
