Asbestos Forces Closure of Northern Iowa School

An elementary school in northern Iowa is closing over air quality concerns.

The decision came after testing at North Kossuth Elementary in Bancroft showed high asbestos levels.

Mike Landstrum, North Kossuth’s superintendent, says he hopes to have the school’s 145 children transferred to another campus in Swea City by Thursday. The children have three weeks left in the school year.

Landstrum says he didn’t want to close the school but wasn’t willing to take chances with the children’s health.

The tests showed that in one classroom asbestos levels were 10 times greater than what is considered safe. Levels were 1,000 times greater in a second floor hallway.

Source: KIMT-TV.