Montebello : School Building Reopened

The Montebello Unified School District has fully cleaned and reopened the main building at Washington Elementary School, which was closed Oct. 7 after asbestos fibers were detected in the air.

The district tested buildings on eight campuses for asbestos contamination following the Oct. 1 earthquake, but Washington was the only school where actionable levels were detected, district Business Manager Stephen L. Phillips said.

Washington students and school personnel were allowed to return to the building Oct. 22, he said. About 640 students attend the elementary school. The main building houses classrooms and offices. Even though the building was not closed until Oct. 7, students had not returned after the earthquake, Phillips said.