Illinois school welcomes air quality consultantLake Zurich, Illinois - After months of heated debate about the air quality at May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich, Illinois, Community Unit School District 95's board of education has approved a parent-selected independent contractor to inspect the school, which is known to contain asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos particles can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, affecting less than 3,000 Americans each year. The disease can lie dormant for as many as fifty years before symptoms emerge.
Superintendent Mike Egan explained to reporters that a visual environmental inspection with "unfettered access" will be undertaken by Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, a Chicago-based firm that does environmental consulting. "Unfettered access means availability to go up on to the roof, attics, and the areas that have been deemed inaccessible and verify those areas are still inaccessible, as well as a visual inspection," Egan said. "(The visual inspection will be held) as soon as possible, based on everybody's availability," he added.
Carolyn Fitzgerald is a mother of four children who used to attend May Whitney. She fears that roof leaks are damaging asbestos in inaccessible areas and causing asbestos particles to enter the air. "Their approach for maintenance for so long has been band-aiding," said Fitzgerald. "From what I know, there hasn't been a visual inspection with unfettered access."
"I recommend we go ahead with the test," Board member Jim Burke said. "I know there's a lack of trust in the community that we have to get beyond...I'm very comfortable saying yes, with all the extensive testing."
