Leak forces shift in student schedules

SANDPOINT — The potential discovery of asbestos above a water leak Tuesday morning at Sandpoint Middle School will mean local middle and high school students will need to adjust their schedules this week. 

“Several years ago, SMS was abated for asbestos, but out of an abundance of caution, we completely sealed off that entire side of SMS today,” Dr. Becky Meyer, Lake Pend Oreille School District superintendent, said.

“We requested expedited results,” Meyer added.

Meyer notified families yesterday morning that a broken water line above the hallway ceiling at the middle school.

“When discovered, the LPOSD facilities crew immediately shut down the water and started working on repairs and assessing damage,” Meyer told parents in a social media post. “During this process, the crew discovered wet, very old insulation above the light fixture. Before the leak, the insulation was enclosed and undisturbed.”

Meyer said the insulation discovered during the repairs was from the era when asbestos was used.  

While the district waits for results, schedules will be adjusted for the two remaining student days this week.

Wednesday will be a remote learning day for middle school students. Students are expected to utilize Schoology, an online learning platform. SHS students will attend school in person. 

On Thursday, SMS students will attend a regular in-person learning day at the high school building. School staff are expected to assist students with finding their classrooms. SHS students will attend remotely and utilize Schoology. 

At the LPOSD board of trustees meeting Tuesday, Meyer updated the board on current circumstances. She said she is hopeful that testing will have students back on a regular schedule soon. 

“If it is a negative result we will move back in,” she said. 

She told the board that she and other district officials developed several contingency plans, depending on what lab results find out. However, she said that with a planned “no school day” Friday and a holiday Monday, that gives district officials a little bit of extra time to consider options.