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Vineland High School Asbestos Removal Could Affect Start Of School Year

by Cleve Bryan

VINELAND, NJ (CBS) – The Vineland School District doesn't expect asbestos removal in the high school to affect the start of the school year but, just in case, they say there's a "plan B."

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority said Monday they've given their contractor an August 31st deadline to finish the $1 million asbestos removal project.

If there are setbacks, and the work is not done by the first day of School on September 6th, the district will alter the bell schedule.

"We've discussed doing split sessions, having some students in the morning and some in the afternoon, but we don't think it will come to that," say district spokeswoman Gia Messore.

The asbestos was discovered was discovered as the Development Authority was coming down the home stretch of a $10 million renovation to the heating and air conditioning systems in the South Building.

"During the course of demolition in the project they found some asbestos that had been encased in the walls that we did not know about," says Messore.

The district plans to have facilities crews available over Labor Day Weekend to fix the damaged walls if the job isn't already done.

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