A: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are human-made chemicals that were used in building materials and electrical equipment before 1980. Examples of products that may contain PCBs include caulk, paint, glues, plastics, transformers, capacitors, and fluorescent lighting ballasts.

PCBs can cause serious health problems. Along with being classified as human carcinogens, they also can affect the nervous, immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems. While PCBs were widely used in commercial buildings throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s, schools are of particular concern due to the impact of prolonged exposure over multiple years on small children.

For more information about PCBs visit: https://dec.vermont.gov/waste-management/contaminated-sites/PCBsinSchools.

A: In 2021, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 71 calling for testing indoor air in Vermont schools for PCBs, and set maximum contamination levels and exposure limits for various age groups. In Hardwick, sample testing under the direction of the State took place in October 2023, with results delivered to the school in January 2024. Those initial tests showed a group of four classrooms above the School Action Limit (SAL) which meant further action would be required. At that time, the four classrooms in question were closed to students, and students and staff were moved around in the building to accommodate the closure.   

Following the positive test results, with guidance from the Vermont Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health, HES retained the services of Harper Environmental to conduct further testing and  provide consultation on how to deal with the PCBs. Harper’s first action was to test a wide range of materials in the building in order to determine where the PCBs are coming from. From this testing they found that the largest concentrations exist in window caulking in the gym lobby and the curtain wall that faces the church along the driveway.  They also found some lower concentrations in floor tile and trim mastic.  

In an attempt to mitigate the PCB levels in the affected areas, the state provided 29 air filtration units and advised applying a barrier tape to the identified caulk joints.  These items were installed in August 2024 and two more rounds of air testing were completed with mixed results. 

A: Now that PCBs have been identified, the EPA requires cleanup of all materials with a concentration of 50 mg/kg or more.  In order to identify all affected materials, further testing by Harper Environmental was done in October of 2024.  Multiple samples of all materials in the affected portion of the building were analyzed from floor tiles, to wall paint, to ceiling tiles, and glue dobs on the back of chalkboards.  Actionable levels of PCBs are known to be present in some wall paint, stair tread mastic, floor tile mastic, and cove base mastic along with the window caulking.The most noticeable  portion of the project will be to remove the curtain wall window system on the driveway side of the building, grind down the masonry to remove as much PCB material as practical, seal the exposed masonry with epoxy, and construct a new wall system with more thermally efficient windows and siding.  This will remove the highest concentration PCB containing materials from the building. In addition, the gym lobby windows and doors will be removed and replaced with new materials, floor tiles and mastic will be removed from eight classrooms, and all walls and floors in those rooms will be sealed with epoxy to prevent any release of latent PCBs from the concrete and masonry.

A: If the bond vote is successful, work for this project will commence as soon as school is out in June. Contractors are currently holding space in their schedules for this project. Based on current estimates, the project will take about 8-10 weeks to complete meaning the rooms will be ready for students right around the start of the school year.  Given that the timeline for a project as large as this is likely going to extend slightly, school administrators are making arrangements to open the school year with spaces reconfigured within the building until classrooms are ready. Fifth and sixth grades will move into temporary spaces in the gym and cafeteria; special ed, music, the nurse’s office, and others will relocate and share space. Moving students to another site temporarily was investigated, but the complexity of providing all services at a separate location and detachment from their peers outweighs the drawbacks of a short-term shuffling within the school building.   

A: The State has set two thresholds for occupancy. Exceedance of the School Action Level (SAL) allows for spaces to be occupied as long as mitigation measures are in place and/or remediation work is being pursued. Currently, eight classrooms at HES have exceeded the SAL during at least one of three rounds of testing. The second threshold is the Immediate Action Level (IAL) above which the State requires schools to not use the space. Two classrooms had a test in excess of the IAL on one test but saw a reduction back below the threshold with the filtration units running.  Should levels remain consistent, we would be allowed to remain in the spaces we are currently using temporarily. At some point the PCBs will need to be cleaned up. In the meantime, the filter units running in classrooms create nuisance noise and in warmer temperatures it is likely that some rooms exceed the IAL threshold.

A: The thresholds set by the State are tiered based on age of the occupant: preK students have the lowest threshold levels, elementary students higher, and ages 13-adult higher still. The explanation is that it takes less exposure in a small body to reach hazardous levels.

A: The total estimated cost of the project is currently $1,180,000. We have built a small contingency into the bond amount and would use capital reserve funds to cover any additional project costs. The actual bond payment will be dependent on the total amount borrowed and the interest rate at the time of closing. Preliminary estimates put the payment at $135,000.00 per year for a total cost of $1,350,000.00 over ten years. This $135,000.00 represents approximately 1.5% of the total MVU budget.

A: In addition to removing the PCB-containing materials from the building, the improved thermal efficiency of the new wall system is predicted to reduce energy consumption by approximately 8.4% annually. This is a savings of over $4500.00 per year, and qualifies the project for reduced interest rates from the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank. In order to qualify for that program, the project needs to be labeled as an energy efficiency project.

A: When the State passed Act 74 the intention was to cover the cost of testing and remediation for all schools. Now that the program is up and running, the cost of the program has exceeded the funding that was set aside.  We have been told by the State that by following the proper protocol, we will be eligible for funding if/when it is available. Governor Scott has proposed approximately $9 million for PCB cleanup in next year’s state budget. However, we have been informed that, “Currently, the money is being prioritized for schools that have more occupancy restrictions than Hardwick. If there is available funding after that work is complete, Hardwick would be eligible for any remaining funding.” The MVU Board and administration are actively in contact with legislators and State agencies encouraging them to provide funding for Hardwick Elementary as well. If and when funding arrives it can be put against the cost of the project or cost of the bond which has no prepayment penalty. In the meantime, in order to protect the health and safety of our students and staff, we feel it is appropriate to move forward with this project.

A: PCB results for all schools tested so far are available here: https://anrweb.vt.gov/DEC/PCBPublic/Home.aspx . The number of schools tested and the different action levels depending on grade served make overall comparison difficult, but some schools have had levels 1.5-3 times higher than HES while others show little or no contamination.

A: Lakeview and Woodbury Schools have not yet been tested. The State prioritized buildings that are most likely to have elevated PCB levels and given the dates of construction and materials used, it is less likely that those buildings contain PCB-containing materials sufficient to cause concerns.