Watertown High School closes four rooms after asbestos discovery

Watertown High School has closed three classrooms and an office after asbestos was discovered in a classroom, Superintendent Larry Schmiegel said. Classes and staff assigned to the affected rooms were moved to other classrooms.

District staff, a New York State asbestos management planner and an environmental consulting firm conducted walkthroughs of the building. The four rooms will remain closed until mitigation is finished and the spaces are cleared for use. The district also plans preventive work in other areas.

The school board must declare the situation an emergency before the district can seek state funding for the work. The state would also need to declare it a true emergency before asbestos removal and restoration can proceed.