Annual Notification Of Inspection For Asbestos Containing Materials In Public Schools
Dear Lake Gibson Middle School families,
I wanted to make you aware that our school is one of many that must comply with federal rules regarding asbestos-containing materials.
This message serves as our school’s annual notification that we continue to inspect for asbestos and have a management plan in place.
Please allow me to share some basic information about asbestos:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are asbestos-containing materials in most of the nation’s primary, secondary and charter schools.
- Asbestos is most commonly used in schools as insulation and in building materials.
- Intact and undisturbed asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk. Asbestos materials, however, can become hazardous when, due to damage or deterioration over time, they release fibers.
- Most asbestos containing material can be properly managed where it is. In fact, asbestos that is managed properly and maintained in good condition appears to pose relatively little risk to students and school employees.
For many decades, federal rules require all public school districts and private schools to inspect all school buildings for asbestos, develop plans to manage asbestos in schools, and carry out these plans in a timely fashion. Parents, teachers, and other school employees must also be notified about these plans.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires our school to annually notify families how we are managing asbestos-containing materials on our campus.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule, 40 CFR Part 763, Asbestos Containing Material in schools, commonly referred to as AHERA. This rule requires all Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) in their school buildings and to take appropriate actions to control release of asbestos fibers.
All inspections for Lake Gibson Middle School have been completed and a Management Plan describing the results of the inspection and the action plan to control any asbestos found during the inspection, where applicable, has been submitted to the Governor for approval. A copy of this plan is located in the administrative office of this school and at the District School Board of Polk County Maintenance Department and is available for review upon request.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
- Harold Hamby, PCPS maintenance manager, (863) 534-0620
Sincerely,
Sheila Gregory
Principal
Lake Gibson Middle School