Northeastern PA Schools Receive $4 Million in Grants for Asbestos and Lead Abatement
Schools across Northeastern Pennsylvania are taking significant steps to safeguard the health and well-being of students and staff, thanks to nearly $4 million in environmental repair grants awarded by the state. These funds, part of a broader statewide initiative, will help districts address critical hazards like lead contamination, asbestos, and mold in their buildings.
The Statewide Initiative
Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin visited Antietam School District in Berks County—the site of catastrophic flooding last summer—to announce that 109 Pennsylvania school districts, career and technical education centers (CTCs), and charter schools will receive grants of up to $7.9 million. These grants, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Environmental Repairs Grant program, are aimed at creating safer facilities by addressing serious hazards such as lead, mold, and asbestos.
Asbestos, once commonly used in building construction, poses a significant risk to the health of students and staff, particularly in older school buildings. Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to severe respiratory illnesses, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. The removal of asbestos from school buildings is therefore critical in protecting students and ensuring that schools provide safe environments conducive to learning.
The Environmental Repairs Grant program is providing funds to address these hazards, enabling schools to implement updated safety measures like point-of-use filtration systems to remove water contaminants and the removal or containment of asbestos.
Lakeland School District Takes Action on Water Contamination and Asbestos
The Lakeland School District in Northeastern Pennsylvania received grant funding at a crucial time. Elevated levels of perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a chemical within the harmful PFAS group, were recently found in the water at Lakeland High School. The school’s water system surpassed the state Department of Environmental Protection’s safety threshold of 18 parts per trillion for PFOS, raising serious concerns.
Superintendent Marc Wyandt, Ed.D., expressed relief at receiving an $80,671 grant, which will be used to install whole-building water filtration systems at both Lakeland High School and the neighboring Lakeland Elementary-Scott Campus. Importantly, the district will also use these funds to tackle asbestos removal across multiple school buildings. The combination of addressing water contamination and eliminating asbestos hazards will play a crucial role in protecting students from significant preventable risks.
Although the grant will help offset the costs of the water filtration project, additional resources will still be needed to complete the project. Wyandt added that the district is working closely with Claymore Environmental and Risk Management to design the filtration system and is collaborating with the DEP to obtain necessary permits.
Scranton School District’s Focus on Asbestos and Lead Abatement
The Scranton School District, which has been battling lead and asbestos contamination for years, is another beneficiary of the environmental repair funds. With aging school buildings, the district has experienced multiple school closures due to unsafe levels of these contaminants. Asbestos, in particular, poses a serious threat in older buildings, which require extensive remediation to remove or contain the dangerous fibers.
Scranton received $826,636 in grant money to address these issues.
The district plans to use the grant money for asbestos abatement and other environmental remediation projects. With this funding, Scranton can continue the critical work of making its buildings safe and preventing students and staff from exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers.
A Broader Commitment to Safety
These repairs are not just about meeting regulatory standards; they are about ensuring the health and safety of the students and staff who spend countless hours in these buildings. For decades, asbestos has been a silent threat in schools across the nation, and the removal of this hazardous material is key to creating a safe learning environment. Both Lakeland and Scranton school districts have been proactive in their efforts to address these issues, but the grant funding will allow them to undertake more comprehensive and long-term solutions.
The statewide Environmental Repairs Grant program is a significant step in addressing the growing concern over the safety of Pennsylvania’s school facilities, particularly in older districts where asbestos, lead, and other hazards are more prevalent. The funds awarded through this program will ensure that Pennsylvania’s schools are not only safer but healthier environments for learning.
While asbestos is no longer used in new commercial construction, its presence still exists in older buildings, where tile, cement, and insulation could break down, revealing the friable fibers. The latency period between initial asbestos exposure and disease diagnosis can span decades. If you or someone you know is suffering from lung cancer or mesothelioma, their cancer may be tied to asbestos exposure. Call 412-471-3980 to learn more.
