Binghamton Calvin Coolidge School Asbestos Emergency

Binghamton City School District officials say disturbed asbestos in a crawl space in the basement of the Calvin Coolidge Elementary School was found before the end of the past school year.

The school board met in emergency session August 13 to talk about how to deal with the cleanup of the material,  which is a carcinogen.

At the end of the last school year, planned summer programs were moved to another school district building.

Air tests earlier this month found unacceptable levels of asbestos in the air in all but a couple areas of the Calvin Coolidge school

The emergency declaration means the district can proceed quickly with the cleanup without going through the sometimes lengthy bidding process,

District officials say they don't know if the abatement can be completed before the September 4th start of the next school year.