District proposes phased ceiling-tile remediation after DLS inspection; capital planning to study long-term options

District officials told the joint meeting that the Department of Labor Standards (DLS) inspected the high school, identified potential asbestos-containing material in sprayed fireproofing above ceiling tiles in B and C wings, and asked the district to accelerate remediation steps.

Superintendent Jason DeFalco and operations lead Matt Ellenwood said the district and consultant UEC proposed an interim, phased approach rather than full abatement immediately. The summer 2021 work targeted visibly damaged tiles: crews cleaned debris above tiles, sealed or replaced damaged ceiling tiles, and purchased roughly 500 replacement tiles. Subsequent summers would replace entire wings’ tiles, continue above-ceiling cleaning and resealing, and conduct air sampling and hygienist oversight.

Ellenwood said that UEC will run testing during and after the work and that the district plans ongoing six-month air-sampling checks. He told the meeting, “They’re going above the tiles, cleaning any dust or debris material that is on top of the tiles... then they’re resealing the tiles.” He added that DLS has accepted the district’s timeline as sufficient interim work while the district completes capital planning.

Committee members pressed financial and procedural questions: where remediation money would come from, whether the remedy would satisfy DLS sanctions, and whether interim work risks creating sunk costs if the district later pursues a full MSBA-funded replacement. Officials said the DLS civil fine referenced was modest (about $11,000), the district secured approximately $75,000 in FEMA reimbursement that can be directed to the work, and the capital committee will include remediation planning in FY23–FY24 budget discussions. Consultants advised preparing a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by January if the district seeks larger-scale building replacement funding.

The district scheduled follow-up capital-planning meetings and invited town committees to review the capital plan workbook. Officials said the immediate priority is student and staff safety and maintaining building access while the community evaluates long-term options.