BHS renos to take longer than anticipated

BOWMANVILLE -- Renovations slated for Bowmanville High School will overlap this and next school year and part of the work will entail removal of asbestos-containing construction materials.

That could mean warm conditions for students in interior classrooms, since the first couple of weeks of the 2008-09 school year will begin without air circulation to classrooms which do not have windows.

A letter sent home with students Thursday explains the situation to parents.

Originally, it was expected the $2.25 million in renovations, which include refurbishment of all the ventilation ducts, replacement of every window in the school, tile replacement and minor painting, would be completed over the summer break.

Board spokesman Greg Kidd said students have not been at any risk as a result of the asbestos-containing construction materials being in the rooms. According to the letter sent home, there are four rooms in which the material exists.

"To ensure that we can provide air circulation by our projected date of mid-September, we must begin work on two of these rooms -- a mechanical room and the dance studio -- in early June," said the letter. The area is to be "completely isolated" from the rest of the school during the work.

It's normal to find materials like asbestos in such buildings, said Mr. Kidd.

"In any building of a certain age, the reality is, the construction materials used contain some portion of asbestos material in them," he said Thursday. The asbestos is only a concern during the actual removal, "not prior or after," he said.

The board is inviting parents to a public meeting on the issue on Wednesday, May 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the BHS auditorium.

Part of the discussion will be whether there will be a need to relocate students during the renovation, should it get too hot.

In June, air ventilation will be available to the entire school, save for the auditorium, cafeteria and technical classrooms. In September, the greatest issue is anticipated to be in the school's interior classrooms, since exterior rooms have windows that, once replaced, will open to allow air flow.

The renovations have to be done during the warmer part of the school year, said Mr. Kidd.

"We have a four-month (construction) window that we're trying to place in the school year to minimize disruption, and to maximize use of the summer break," he said.

It's potential short-term pain for long-term gain, Mr. Kidd said.

"Ultimately, the end goal is to end up with a vastly improved school," he said.