Why I want Enfield’s old schools torn down, not renovated
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| Water-stained ceiling tiles in an office at Hazardville Memorial School |
Enfield's last full inspection was in 2024. The last six-month check was in June. I went to the school department and looked at the records to gain a better understanding of what's involved. I did not realize, until I looked at the material, how much effort the school system has to take to ensure the children are safe.
I'm planning to write something in greater detail, but for now the opposition has to understand the real implications of a "no" vote.
Asbestos may sit in old floor tile and glue, pipe insulation and ceiling material. Asbestos materials that are sealed or in good condition do not put fibers in the air. They become a problem when they are disturbed enough to break. The EPA says asbestos in good condition can be safely managed in place. The trouble is that these schools are getting older, and things break. That's why inspections are ongoing.
The full extent of asbestos in these buildings is not known. Federal rules let inspectors assume old material contains asbestos and manage it that way. That is legal and normal practice. Testing isn't required if the material is sealed and undisturbed. So inspection reports usually say asbestos is "assumed." School officials say even some 12-inch vinyl composite tiles that are highly unlikely to contain asbestos are listed as "assumed" because they have never been tested. Unless an area has been tested or cleaned up, nobody knows exactly how much is there.
The district has sealed or removed much of the suspected material over the years, especially in high-traffic areas. In summer 2025, asbestos flooring was removed outright from the main hallways of Hazardville Memorial. Other areas remain sealed rather than removed.
Hazardville also shows what aging buildings do. Before the roof was replaced, leaks caused ceiling tiles to fall in one classroom and collapse in another. Those areas were fixed. But roof leaks, burst pipes, any damage from aging systems can affect floors and ceilings and close part of a school while it's cleaned up.
I've been through Hazardville Memorial. This school, and others, run on steam heat through 1950s-era pipes. Windows are single pane. The electrical system can only handle limited air conditioning. Meeting accessibility law requires moving walls and doorways. Modern HVAC can't fit under these ceilings.
All of this work can mean disturbing material that may contain asbestos. The uncertainty is part of the problem. Any renovation has to plan for it.
I don't see how we renovate these buildings piecemeal without spending millions. Those renovations won't fully fix the problems. And given that uncertainty, I don't want them renovated. I want them torn down. That is what the plan does if this bond is approved.
A "no" vote means keeping children in buildings that need watching for asbestos for as long as they stand. A “yes” vote puts them in new buildings without these materials.
To the people who think $89 million is too much: Consider the cost of the alternative. Inspection after inspection. Repair after repair, each one planned around asbestos.
We have to do the right thing here.
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| Hazardous materials inspection reports at school administration headquarters. As long as these schools stand, these inspections will continue. |