Why weren’t parents notified of asbestos?

Dear Editor:

I just read that the Cherokee County School Board met secretly Tuesday to discuss the asbestos that was recently discovered at Alma Elementary in the auditorium and cafeteria. By meeting secretly and not giving a specific reason for doing so they violated the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. This is really besides the point.

What I would like to know is if the school district informed parents and teachers that asbestos was located in the school. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency web site, in 1986 the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was signed into law.

This act requires schools to “Perform an original inspection and periodic re-inspections every 3 years for asbestos containing material” and “Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school”.

There are several other regulations under this act. If this went into effect in 1986, there should have been numerous inspections and asbestos should have been found years ago. Alma wasn’t built last year. So, I am just wondering if parents, teachers and the staff were ever informed of asbestos in the building?

If the school board is required to inform parents and teachers about “any asbestos abatement actions” then why did they meet in a closed session? It appears that parents were not notified of the abatement project.

I do not claim to be a genius at all and don’t claim to be right, but I would like for someone to tell me whether I’m right or wrong.

If they violated the S.C. Freedom of Information Act, then why doubt that they would violate AHERA? Please prove me right or wrong

Thank you,

Jennifer Joyne

Piedmont, SC

Where is Spencer’s

candidate statement?

Dear Editor:

Local and state candidates are being given the opportunity to have their views printed in your paper in your candidates section (Wednesday’s paper) and I think that’s great.

However, we have one of our very own, Albert Spencer, running for Congress and everyone seems to keep overlooking him and printing his views in the paper. We will all be voting on Tuesday and I would like to see the views of both candidates for our congressional seat shown in your paper so that voters can make a conscious decision.

Is that possible before the election? Just a thought.

Amanda Knowles

Gaffney, SC

(EDITOR’S NOTE : Persons who would like more information about Mr. Spencer may visit his Web site at:

www.spencer4congress.com)

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