North Hills and Northgate school districts have been awarded state grants to upgrade infrastructure and address hazards.
“Eliminating environmental hazards in our schools is vital to the well-being and success of our students,” state Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Brighton Heights, in announcing the grants. “I’m proud to have helped secure this critical investment in creating safe and healthy schools.”
North Hills was awarded $274,193. The grant will be used for continued asbestos abatement at West View Elementary School, which is undergoing a massive renovation.
According to the district, West View Elementary was built in 1925 and there are known locations of asbestos throughout the building. Students have not been in school when previous abatement occurred, during the summer of 2023 and the Presidents Day weekend this year.
During the process, the entire area where the asbestos is located is secured and sectioned off from both the main building and the building’s ventilation system.
The awards for North Hills and Northgate, which received $83,717, were secured through the Department of Education’s Environmental Repairs Grants program funding provided in the previous year’s state budget (2023-24). The grants are to be used for improvements to air conditioning or heating, removal of lead and asbestos, repairs to roofs or other environmental hazards.
A total of $75 million was awarded to 109 school districts in this round of funding.