Dewey Elementary School in Evanston, Illinois has unveiled a $3.3-million addition plan. In addition to providing much needed extra space, the plan will also involved removing toxic asbestos fibers from the school. Asbestos is a toxic material that was once a popular component of building materials such as insulation, tiles, and fireproofing.

Asbestos is now known to be a toxic material linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The renovations will also make the school safer by unblocking critical access areas that could prove problematic if a fire were to break out. One such place is the school library, which blocks access to a stairwell that could be used to escape during a fire. The principal’s office will also be moved, and security will be increased by filtering all visitors through the school’s main office.

The relocation of the library and office areas means that there is now spaced that can be used to create two new classrooms. Once asbestos is removed from the area, the construction of the new classrooms can begin. It is expected that the two new classrooms will be completed this summer, barring any additional asbestos-related complications.

However, the school will still need to plan for the future, as the number of students is expected to keep increasing. Officials believe that the total headcount at Dewey could grow from 398 to 492 over the next five years. School officials believe that by 2011, space will become a serious problem again, and the school will need to expand to add even more classroom space.

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