The last of the asbestos (a hazardous material which lies in flooring, insulation and piping) will be removed from Southwest Licking, Newark’s school system this summer.

Southwest Licking’s board of education members approved the asbestos removal on May 26. The asbestos will be removed from 10 classrooms at Watkins Middle School. The rooms are located near the middle school’s cafeteria–which lies near the main entrance on the South side of the building.

The removal should cost $58,067. Superintendent of the school district, Forest Yocum, said: “That should take care of the asbestos we have in that building.”

Yocum noted that students within the middle school have been protected from the hazardous material. However, the presence of asbestos became a concern once the school considered hanging projectors–where they would be required to drill into ceilings.

If workers were to drill into the school’s ceilings without first properly removing the asbestos, microscopic fibers may be released into the air–creating an extremely hazardous environment for students.

Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, students are at risk for contracting malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is just one of the rare and aggressive forms of cancer which are related to asbestos exposure. The cancer typically affects the chest cavity–causing chest pain and shortness of breath (though symptoms typically lie dormant for 30 years). Despite mesothelioma treatment, such as chemo, the majority of sufferers succumb to this cancer in less than two years.

Once the removal is complete, a districtwide inspection will ensure that all asbestos has been removed from district’s buildings. Clearly the presence of mesothelioma information has Southwest Licking’s school district concerned over their students’ and employees’ well being.

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