School officials in Hamilton, New Jersey, have announced that they plan to spend around $54 million on school repairs, including asbestos abatement, in the township. The proposed plan and budget will affect over eleven schools in the district, but still needs to be approved by New Jersey’s Department of Education.
Crumbling ceilings, unsafe playgrounds, and other critical building issues have plagued several schools in the recent past. According to NJ.com, Superintendent Thomas Ficarra clearly stated that “this is a no frills attempt to keep this district safe.” When toxic substances like asbestos are involved, it is best to act fast.
Some of the repairs’ costs include:
- Asbestos: $1 Million
- Security: $9.4 Million
- Windows: $19.9 Million
- Life Safety: $9 Millon
- Roofing: $6.4 Million
- Ceilings: $2.8 Million
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): $5.2 Million
Before asbestos was recognized as a hazard to human health, materials and products containing the substance were built into nearly half of America’s school buildings. While schools built after 1980 are not likely to have asbestos-containing materials present, it is older school buildings — like those falling apart in New Jersey – that pose the greatest threat to students and teachers.
Find out more details about where and how the school district intends to make these improvements in this NJ.com article.
