Asbestos found, contained at Carpentersville school

Asbestos has been found in as many as four classrooms of Sunny Hill Elementary School in Carpentersville, according to a letter sent to parents of students Tuesday.

The letter, signed by Barrington Unit District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard and Sunny Hill Principal Irma Bates, states that students were immediately removed from the affected classroom and containment procedures began immediately. The work should be complete by Friday or Monday, officials said.

Because the asbestos was never airborne or disturbed, it would not have been a threat to students or school staff, District 220 officials said.

“The best approach to dealing with asbestos is to immediately contain it,” district spokesman Jeff Arnett said.

The asbestos was recognized by a foreman during the replacement of white boards with SMART Boards in seven classrooms.

Tests confirmed the probable presence of glue-based asbestos in at least three and possibly four of the classrooms. Tests ruled out the presence of asbestos in the other three classrooms.

While the drywall installations that will contain the asbestos are being completed, two of the affected classes have been moved to the library, another to the cafeteria and the last to the art room.

Air quality tests in the affected areas are good, officials said, indicating that asbestos particles likely were never released in the classrooms.