It has been determined that John F. Kennedy High School will need to begin the 2012-2013 academic year in the Rosemount High School facility while John F. Kennedy Business Centre will have to continue operating at the Shadd Business Centre and the Rosemount Technology Centre Curtis George Campus in Montreal North. Here is Director General Robert Stocker's message on the subject.
June 4, 2012
UPDATE JOHN F. KENNEDY FACILITY
Dear Stakeholders,
I would like to thank everyone who has worked
diligently on the asbestos situation at John F. Kennedy High School. The team
was led by the Deputy Director General, Roma Medwid who collaborated with the
Chair, Ms. Angela Mancini, the Vice Chair, Ms. Sylvia Lo Bianco and the
Commissioner for John F. Kennedy, Mr. Rocco Barbieri as well as the
Commissioner for Rosemount High School, Mr. A. Cannavino, to ensure that the
concerns of all the stakeholders were addressed.
As
you are aware from our previous communication, the temporary relocation of John
F. Kennedy High School and John F. Kennedy Business Centre was largely
accomplished seamlessly due to the efforts of a whole team of people: M. Claude
Dansereau and Mr. Cosmo Della Rocca, Regional Directors, Mr. Joe Marra,
Principal of JFK, Mr. F. Di Paolo, Principal of JFK Business Centre, Ms.
Demetra Droutsas, Principal of Rosemount High School, Mr. Harry Michalopoulos,
Principal Rosemount Technology Centre, Ms Alice Sideropoulos, Principal of
Shadd Business Centre, the staffs of both schools, the Governing Boards of both
schools, the EMSB Management Team (A. Furfaro, J. Nicolopoulos, C. Spyridakos,
S. Kakouratos, A. Watson, C. Primiano,
L. Lewis, L. Di Fillippo), the field
service technicians headed by G. Bakakis, (EMSB) CSST Officer C. Boutin, the School Organization Technician
E. Baise and of course, our
Communications officer, M. Cohen. It was a team that worked tirelessly to
relocate the schools but, more importantly, is presently involved in
coordinating our efforts to finish testing, locating, and then the eventual
clean up of the asbestos from JFK. I wish to thank everyone for their effort
and determination in working to provide a safe, clean environment for the
students and staff of the JFK facility.
Although
it appears that there is little being done at JFK, this is far from reality. Parents who live
close by and don't see much action may not be aware that this is because the
experts are still testing. As stated in the public meeting, we have located the
source of one of the types of asbestos fibres. We are currently conducting
tests to locate the source of another type of fibre which appears in ‘trace’
(or very small) amounts. We are being
thorough and it is meticulous work. By
May 30th, we took 69 samples from the ‘old’ or original section of
the school. As of June 4th, we will be taking further samples in the
‘new’ section which includes the pool, the new gym, the workshop area and the
cafeteria.
Please remember that
it takes a few days to install the testing machinery in the locations, and then
it takes a few days to take samples. Then we have to wait a number of days for the
results. Once the results are in, they are reviewed and a determination is made
as to what the next step will be. As stated, we are working slowly and
methodically to determine if there is another source of asbestos fibre that
exists so that once we begin the cleanup we will be sure that there will be no
further contamination from another source. We want to be absolutely sure that
the students and staff will be going back to a clean, safe environment.
Rest assured that a JFK Task Force met to move this work along as quickly as possible without compromising the end result: a school that is free of asbestos for a safe return to the facility.
Rest assured that a JFK Task Force met to move this work along as quickly as possible without compromising the end result: a school that is free of asbestos for a safe return to the facility.
Once the testing is
completed (targeted for mid June), the documents for the cleanup of JFK will be
prepared and submitted for public tender. There is a minimum 10 day period
where bids are submitted and accepted. Then the bids are analyzed by a
supervising architect. Finally, the work is awarded to a company that
specializes in the removal of asbestos. Once
the asbestos is removed then the regular summer cleaning (washing and waxing
floors etc) of the premises can begin. Currently, JFK is scheduled to be
ready by the end of September. Every effort will be made to safely finish
ahead of schedule if at all possible.
Therefore, the
students will start their 2012-2013 school year at the Rosemount facility. We
understand that this may be disappointing news, but we feel it is necessary to give
you the facts as we know them now.
We will continue to
update you as progress is made. We want to reassure you that it is our goal to
work as quickly as possible- but safely and thoroughly.
We would also like
to address the issue of the rumors that are out there. We have no wish to sell
off the JFK facility for condo
development. We are educators - not real estate developers. Furthermore, any
sale of school board facilities requires extensive consultation and is closely
supervised by the MELS. This is not something that a School Board can
arbitrarily do on its own.
It
is our intention to reopen the facility so that JFK High School and JFK
Business Centre can return home.
With
the help of all the individuals mentioned at the beginning, and with the
support of all the members of Council and the community, we will realize our
goal.
We
will submit another update to you before the end of June.
Sincerely,
R.
Stocker
Director
General
