The possible release occurred as part of a renovation project Tuesday evening, and system leaders say they're cancelling school on Friday so that samples can be taken and the air quality verified to be completely safe.

“We want to assure parents, students, and staff members that it is very unlikely enough asbestos fiber was released into the air to harm them,” says William Smith, Superintendent of Cabell County Schools. “Under federal safety guidelines, the area disturbed is so small we are only required to clean it. As a proactive measure, we're sampling the air and closing the school Friday. We want to put the minds of those who work and study at Beverly Hills at ease.”

Smith says a contractor working at the building accidently drilled five 1/4” holes in a ceiling that they had been informed contained asbestos. According to the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), because the area was less than three linear square feet, it is not considered a major fiber release episode. However, school system leaders say they want to make every effort to put the safety of students and staff first.

“We've brought in an independent contractor with special expertise to conduct the air quality testing this evening,” says Superintendent Smith. “That testing will be completed overnight and the samples will be hand-delivered to an independent, third-party laboratory. We should have the results by the end of the day Friday and fully anticipate that school will reopen for business as usual on Monday.”

Pinnacle Environmental Consultants, based in Hurricane, WV, is conducting the air quality testing for the school system.