Communications breakdown cited in asbestos controversy at B.C. school

An independent report on an asbestos exposure incident at New Westminster Secondary, the Lower Mainland city's only public high school,says there needs to be improvements in school district communications.

The incident happened two years ago during renovations when workers unearthed clouds of asbestos dust just as students werearriving for their morning classes.

But the school district didn't go public about it for a year, and then it took another year for the report by Stewart Ladyman, aformer school superintendent from the Okanagan, to go public.

The report recommends better communication, clearer job descriptions and reporting lines.

Parents, students upset

The two-year delay left many parents like Patrick O'Conner frustrated and upset.

"I'm having trouble reconciling that we were not told the truth," he said at Tuesday night's public information meetingat the school, where the report was released.

Grade 12 student Tabytha Terezakis said she is more concerned about the health of her friends.

"I think there should be someone to take initiative that, you know, 40 years down the road, if my best friend gets cancer, her family will be set up with compensation."

Ladymanagrees that the breakdown in internal communications meant the school board and the public weren't given all the facts.

"There are frustrations out there, anger. There are people who feel their children have been exposed, workers have been exposed, they're at huge risk. That needs to be put in some medical context, what science is saying."

Officials at the Fraser Health Authority havesaid the risk for studentswas minimal,and have recommended against ongoing monitoring at the old school.

Ladymanis also calling for the creation of a new position, someone who would be responsible for health and safety at New Westminster schools.