Asbestos Found In Two Binghamton Schools

Asbestos contamination was found in two Binghamton city schools this week, but the district said it will not evacuate any students or faculty. Woodrow Wilson Elementary and West Middle School are the latest Binghamton city schools to have confirmed reports of the cancer-causing substance. After asbestos caused Calvin Coolidge Elementary to close in August, the school board requested all Binghamton city schools have another round of inspections. School principals mailed letters to parents and guardians yesterday that state asbestos was found in the school, but students and faculty have no access to the space. Since students and faculty have no access to these spaces, and the substances haven’t been disturbed, neither school will be shut down. Officials say these findings are very different from the asbestos found at Coolidge, and parents should not be concerned. Binghamton School District will include money for asbestos abatement in its next capital project. Until then, the areas will remain sealed off.