WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Northside High School will reopen for students this morning
It's back to school tomorrow for students at Northside High School
Administrators abruptly shut the campus down Wednesday when a construction worker found asbestos while demolishing the library. Students missed two days of classes until test results could confirm whether or not it was safe to reopen.
Those results came in Friday showing there was no real danger.
On Sunday afternoon, school leaders held a meeting for parents who were and are concerned. The meeting gave parents and students a chance to discuss the asbestos problem.
"We just want to find out the facts about what's going on and we just want to make sure we hear first hand from the school and from Chuck what the situation is to make sure our kids our safe," said parent Ben Sutphin.
Among those on hand to answer their questions were Principal of Northside Frank Dent and Roanoke County Superintendent Lorraine Lange. Lange already issued a statement Friday reassuring everyone the school is indeed safe.
"He's told me that the door that they've talked about being closed all the time was not closed all the time. And I have a concern about that and he's in the school all day long with this condition and I know the conditions that asbestos cause," said parent Bobby Brown.
Since the tests results came back, the school has stressed students and staff were never at risk of being exposed to the asbestos. Even though the asbestos will still be in the library when students return to class, the school says it will not be a risk to anyone because the area is sealed off.
For now, asbestos warnings still cover a rear entrance to Northside and workers will begin the task of removing some of asbestos after school this week. Some students are not concerned about returning.
"Not really because they had it locked up in the library and they were putting all the plastic over it so I wouldn't think it would be a big deal," said Harmony Sutphin,
