JEFFERSON CITY — Jefferson County Schools will begin an asbestos abatement project at Jefferson Elementary School on June 8, after students and staff leave for summer break. The project is scheduled to wrap up in mid-July, with a third-party company monitoring air quality during removal while the building is empty.

Some parents in Jefferson County kept their children home from the school after photos circulated online showing ongoing construction inside the building while students were still attending classes. The images prompted concerns about potential asbestos-related health risks at the aging school.

No asbestos removal work is currently taking place at Jefferson Elementary. Maintenance crews are only preparing classrooms for the summer abatement project, and a set of lockers and a cabinet have been removed from a classroom designated for tutoring that currently has no students using it.

"It's not abatement. We would never do that while students are present. Right now, that's all we're doing, removing some pieces of furniture." Jefferson County Schools Director Tommy Arnold said there is no threat to student or staff safety at the school.

"Student safety is our top priority. Our employees' safety is top priority," he said.

Asbestos was found under much of the floor tile at the school during the summer of 2024. A contractor for the abatement project has not yet been finalized.

Taylor Jones, a parent, said she remains concerned about students returning to the school while preparation work continues. "I was told at kindergarten roundup the biggest concern was the ground," Jones said. "All I can think about is my daughter is there."

Larger renovation work at the school will begin in September. The broader construction project includes new heating and air conditioning systems, a sprinkler system, new windows, plumbing upgrades, and a new HVAC system in the gym. Arnold said the disturbances from that work would be no more distracting than crews mowing the lawn, and that the new construction would alleviate concerns about fire drills, heating and electricity issues, safety, and improve the learning environment.

Parents will continue receiving updates throughout the construction process, and students will have dedicated classroom spaces instead of being combined into shared classrooms. "In two years, this school is going to be in much better shape," he said.