Parents and students alike tend to think that school should be a safe space, at least physically. While schools can’t always prevent all forms of trauma and bullying, they can offer reasonably safe buildings and nutritious meals.
In recent years, many school districts have invested heavily in modernized safety systems for lockdown scenarios. These projects focus on controlling the flow of pedestrian traffic into a school building and creating barriers for the protection of students and staff members. Outdated school buildings aren’t just dangerous because of the threat of violence.
There is also the possibility of dangerous chemical exposure to consider. Older building standards may have allowed for the inclusion of materials that people now recognize as dangerous. Recently, the state of Philadelphia committed $75 million in state funds through a grant program to remediate hazards in local schools, including asbestos. This project highlights how unsafe many older school buildings can be.
Philadelphia received the maximum grant amount
Keeping old school buildings in use can be cost-effective unless those buildings don’t adhere to modern safety standards. Concerns about the condition of older buildings prompted an in-depth review by policymakers.
State lawmakers looked at factors including the age of school buildings, the number of students in various districts and a host of other considerations, including on-site testing, when deciding how much to allocate to individual school districts. The School District of Philadelphia received the maximum possible grant amount.
The School District of Philadelphia has more than $7.8 million to address asbestos, lead and mold in school buildings. Experts warn that the amount allocated is insufficient given the extent of repairs required.
There have been reports of children becoming ill due to lead paint and exposed, damaged asbestos-containing materials in previously-closed school buildings. For example, Frankford High School in Philadelphia had to close entirely because of damaged asbestos in 2023.
That facility alone may require more than $20 million in remediation investments. Countless students across the state may have already fallen ill or had dangerous levels of exposure that could lead to illness in the future.
Being aware of the connection between environmental asbestos exposure and serious illness can help people seek justice. Those sickened due to asbestos may have grounds for legal action against businesses or government entities that exposed them to a known human carcinogen.