Asbestos abatement, cameras and playground repairs outlined; district approves youth basketball use

District facilities staff reported multiple health, safety and maintenance projects at the July 11 School Committee meeting, and the committee approved a youth basketball facilities-use request for the middle-school gym.

Facilities staff Scott said asbestos-removal work began July 5 in mechanical spaces above the high-school gym and auditorium; the music-room corridor passed air-quality testing and was reopened. Scott projected the remaining abatement and air-quality testing would finish by the end of that week. "The music room corridor is done; that passed the air quality test and was reopened today," he reported.

At the middle school, crews installed 21 new security cameras to improve safety, and paving work to remove old asphalt is scheduled to begin on or about Aug. 8, with an anticipated one-week duration, weather permitting. Scott said the JFK/F. Maloney playground showed concrete and ledge issues requiring additional site surveys and possible concrete removal; Millville Elementary will receive new wood chips and minor repairs.

Committee members discussed surplus athletic equipment and storage logistics; a donated cement supply will likely accelerate repairs at the high-school girls' softball field. The committee approved a facilities-use request from the Blackstone-Millville Youth Basketball Association for a clinic in the middle-school gym starting the next day, with the varsity head coach running the clinic.

Administration also announced a summer feeding expansion: universal free breakfast and lunch for students in district programs, meals at the Boys & Girls Club, and a community feeding schedule serving more than 400 children per day during the summer.

What's next: abatement contractor to finish work and complete air-quality tests; facilities staff to finalize playground surveys and paving schedule; facilities-use and feeding information to be distributed to families and community partners.