Indiana Teacher Resigns After Asbestos DebacleMuncie, Indiana - Terry Nelson, a journalism teacher at Central High School in Muncie, Indiana has submitted her resignation. Nelson, who has taught at the school for 16 years, made headlines earlier this year when she assisted her students in collecting unauthorized samples of asbestos from Central High classrooms. Critics argue that she could have exposed students to asbestos fibers, which may cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases if inhaled.
Though she voluntarily resigned, Nelson was not happy about the way she had been treated. Nelson sent a vitriolic letter to the school board and various administrators. A copy of the letter was also sent to a local newspaper. In her letter, Nelson claimed that school administrators had "chastised, threatened and verbally reprimanded" her for her work on Central High's school newspaper, The Munsonian. Nelson also claims that students that worked for The Munsonian were "bullied" and "intimidated" by school officials.
Despite Nelson's statements about improper treatment on the behalf of the school board, local parents and other building faculty maintain their concerns that Nelson may have inadvertently exposed students in her classroom to asbestos. If students were exposed, they may not demonstrate any asbestos disease-related symptoms until they are well into adulthood, or as early as their late twenties or early thirties. If students do develop an asbestos illness as a result, both Nelson and the school district could face potential lawsuits.
The problem of asbestos in schools is nothing new. Over 30 million structures, including aging school buildings, contain asbestos in the form of ceiling and floor tiles and insulation. Because asbestos abatement and disposal is so costly, school districts often postpone the endeavor for as long as possible because there is simply not enough funding within their budget to cover costs.
