Bangor's Oldest School Building To Close Temporarily Over Asbestos
Fairmount School, built in 1919, will shut down for the 2026-27 year after asbestos turned up during leak repairs.
Bangor's school department said on April 29 that Fairmount School is the only building in the district it plans to temporarily close because of asbestos concerns, according to spokesperson Ray Phinney.
Superintendent Marie Robinson told teachers in a memo on April 28 that Fairmount, which serves fourth and fifth graders on the city's west side, will close temporarily starting with the 2026-27 school year, though it will remain safe for students and staff through the end of the current year. Built in 1919, Fairmount is the department's oldest school building. Workers found asbestos in the ceilings while responding to a water leak, Robinson's letter said.
Phinney said the discovery is not unusual: because all of Bangor's schools were built before 1980, when asbestos was commonly used in building materials, the district assumes it is present throughout its buildings and checks for it before any construction project. He did not say when officials first identified the asbestos at Fairmount.
The School Committee, whose meetings are scheduled for April 29 and May 13, is expected to consider a temporary school reorganization plan at the May meeting. Committee chair Timothy Surrette said the plan will prioritize student safety and continued learning.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
