Washington County Public Schools

An Important Message for Abingdon Elementary School Families: Abingdon Elementary School will be closed Monday, August 19, 2024

Good afternoon AES Staff and Families,

As we shared earlier in the week, 3rd party air quality testing was performed on samples from Abingdon Elementary School on Friday August 16 due to a disturbance of asbestos by an outside contractor during a demolition/construction project in the gymnasium. The good news is that air samples outside the construction area passed the test. As expected, the air samples from inside the gymnasium were elevated but not above the average limit. Additionally, the gymnasium has been sealed off and without HVAC during the construction period. No students or staff have been in the construction area during the project.

In addition to taking air samples outside the gym, we also tested dust residue found on surfaces in the adjoining hallway and the cafeteria to ensure we were covering all bases. Unfortunately those tests detected trace amounts of asbestos. For surface testing there is no limit; the tests show presence or absence. This weekend, in order to ensure our students and staff can return to a safe learning and work environment, specialized crews are working to remediate and thoroughly clean those surface areas. We anticipate this work will be completed by Sunday. 

In following the safest possible protocol, Abingdon Elementary School will be closed on Monday, August 19. This additional day will allow us to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of air quality to confirm that the building is completely safe for students and staff. 

I apologize for the challenges and inconvenience this situation has created for our working families . Because of this unexpected closure, we will once again offer free childcare services, provided by the Boys and Girls Club and Abingdon Elementary staff, at Woodland Hills Christian Church from 7:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Parents and guardians can drop off their children at the church, or bus transportation will be available for those who need it. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will also be provided.

All other schools will operate on a normal schedule on Monday, August 19.

As we move forward, we will be taking additional precautions to prevent an incident like this one from happening again. This includes a thorough review of our construction and maintenance protocols with outside contractors, increased oversight during projects involving potentially hazardous materials, and a professional review of our existing Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Management Plans.

In addition to working with professional cleaners, we have also reached out to the Virginia Department of Education, the local Health Department, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for guidance and assistance.

Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to resolve this issue. We will provide more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have specific questions you may email me directly at kperrigan@wcs.k12.va.us