Asbestos removal scheduled at two Westfield schools

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Students from the Franklin Avenue and Abner Gibbs Elementary Schools pledge alligiance to the flag Friday at the groundbreaking for a new elementary school on Ashley St. The new school will replace the old one and will be much larger. Asbestos is being removed from the Franklin Avenue school.

(The Republican file photo)

WESTFIELD - The city will use $63,180 in surplus funds to finance asbestos removal at Westfield Vocational-Technical High School and Franklin Avenue Elementary School.

The City Council approved the appropriation from the city's stabilization account during its regular meeting Monday night.

The council last month approved nearly $100,000 in surplus cash for the vocational school and Westfield High School. Those funds will pay for new sound deflection is the auto body repair shop and improved technology in two computer classrooms at the vocational high school. Work approved last week for Westfield High will upgrade that school's wireless technology.

School Business Manager Ronald R. Rix said the $63,180 is needed to complete asbestos remediation at Franklin Avenue and the high school.

"We want to complete this project during the summer recess. The cost is just beyond our means at this time," he said.

Officials plan to relocate Franklin Avenue students to a school proposed for Ashley Street. Despite that plan, the asbestos still must be removed from the area of the boiler in the basement.

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