By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Spring break means spring cleaning at Manville High School, and during the school’s weeklong break, the school district plans to replace asbestos tiles in two classrooms at the school.
The repairs began on April 10, and were expected to be finished before students returned to school April 19, Business Administrator and Board Secretary Richard Reilly said at the board’s April 7 work session meeting.
Two Brothers Contracting, Inc., of Clifton, will remove the tiles from the classroom at a cost of $7,200. The removal took place April 10 and 11, and is a routine part of school operations. A state-authorized agency assesses each district school, and recommends removing cracked asbestos tiles before the tiles become a threat to the occupants.
Asbestos tiles do not become a threat until cracked or damaged, allowing the fibers to enter the air administrators said at past meetings.
After the tile removal, Carpet Showcase, Inc., of Piscataway, will install non-asbestos tiles in the classrooms at a cost of $8,572. The installation took place Monday, Mr. Reilly said.
The removal and installation will be monitored and tested by professionals, and the wing housing the two classrooms will be closed off during the process, he added.
The extra time allows the district’s facilities staff time to move the classroom furniture back into the rooms.
Funds for the removal and installations will be transferred from the district’s Capital Reserve Account to the Capital Outlay Account, according to the board’s meeting agenda.

