The asbestos issue at a Binghamton Elementary School has reportedly already cost $4 million. Unsafe levels of airborne asbestos were discovered at Calvin Coolidge Elementary back in August, resulting in the building being shut down and students being relocated for the first half of the year while the building was cleaned. District officials are now saying that that cleaning and replacing of materials lost during the process totals $4 million or more. A percentage of that cost will be covered by the state Education Department. The district will be responsible for the remainder, but officials have not given an estimate of how much of that cost will likely fall to the district. The district’s portion will be paid for using a contingency fund for emergencies or the general fund balance. The district hopes to have a clearer picture of the cost estimates by their school board meeting in January. Following the asbestos abatement, students and staff returned to Coolidge on December 2nd. Many teachers discovered upon their return that the materials they thought they would be returning to had to be discarded. The total cost of the project may increase as teachers need more replacement materials.
