Bangor School District Superintendent Roger Foegen informed the school board at its June 9th meeting that asbestos removal at the old high school will cost more than expected.
Prior to the demolition of the building, asbestos abatement must occur. For when asbestos is disturbed, particles are released into the air, and when inhaled, can pose a serious health risk. Diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are known to be asbestos related.
Mesothelioma doctors diagnose 3,000 Americans each year with the aggressive disease, and there is no known mesothelioma cure.
“The initial estimates for asbestos removal were that it would cost around $44,000, but as we’ve gotten into it more, people have discovered more asbestos,” said Foegen.
Workers have discovered that the school’s window panels contain large amounts of asbestos. In addition, the material was discovered inside the school’s furnace. The shop, cafeteria and district office are also known to be asbestos ridden.
Foegen seeks a less expensive bid for the abatement: “Since the bid to remove the additional asbestos (from Advanced Asbestos Removal) came in at $42,500, we thought it would be advisable to get other bids…It is my recommendation that we go with the less expensive bid and pay for the additional cost out of this year’s expenditures,” he told the board.
The board approved the additional cost for the asbestos abatement, and will continue to seek less expensive bids for the project.
Once the asbestos is entirely removed, the old high school building will be demolished.