Warner parents worried about asbestos removal

The Red Clay Consolidated School District called Warner Elementary School parents Thursday to let them know the building is safe following the removal of asbestos from the cafeteria flooring last week.

Questions of safety arose after several parents objected at Wednesday's school board meeting that they were not told about the asbestos, which was removed when school was not in session.

"You guys in charge are not giving us the information," parent Lawrence Stansbury told the board at the meeting. "I'm just saying the parents need to know what's going on."

Red Clay Facilities Manager Brian Moore said the district is not required to tell parents that asbestos is being removed when students will not be in the building during the work. Because of the outcry, however, the district decided Thursday to "take the extra step" to inform parents in the future about such work, whether school is in session or not, he said.

Red Clay used an automatic dialing system to call parents Thursday, district spokeswoman Pati Nash said. The parents were told the building is safe and that a letter will be sent home with students today.

Warner Elementary in Wilmington is undergoing an $8 million renovation that includes installation of air conditioning, electrical upgrades and cafeteria remodeling, Moore said. During the work, water seeped under cafeteria flooring tile last month, causing several tiles to curl up. The damaged tile was tested and sealed the same day, he said, and the district waited until school was not in session at the end of last week to do the asbestos-removal work.

"Everything was done right," said Marcus Suhr, a project manager who monitored the work. Air-quality tests after the asbestos was removed determined the school meets federal requirements and is safe, he said.