The Fayette school district is considering delaying the opening of school for the fall semester by a week due to the discovery of asbestos during cleanup associated with extensive flooding on June 1.

Superintendent Brent Doolin sent a message to parents that the discovery added more time and cost to the project because asbestos must be safely removed before the repair can continue. The district’s Board of Education is expected to decide during its regular meeting on Wednesday, August 19, whether to push the opening day back a week from Tuesday, August 25, to Tuesday, September 1. Any delay will affect the entire district, not just the elementary in the middle schools.

Doolin told this newspaper that if the board votes to delay the start of school by a week, missed days will be made up on Mondays or other days off that are currently scheduled, rather than at the end of the year. School is currently scheduled to dismiss for the summer on Friday, May 21, 2027.

Any delay will have no effect on fall sports, which started practices on Monday.

As was previously reported by the Advertiser, multiple overnight thunderstorms from May 31 into June 1 dumped around five inches of rain and hail in a few hours, causing extensive flooding to Daly Elementary and Clark Middle schools and the Ag building at Fayette High School. Water from the pond at the city park overflowed and crossed Herndon Street, overwhelming ditches on Herndon and Lucky streets. More than a foot of water crossed Lucky Street before entering the school buildings. At that time, Doolin reported that flooding reached as far as the school library, with only seven classrooms and two closets untouched by water. Somehow, the school administration building was spared.

The ongoing restoration by ServePro has since located the presence of asbestos in the glue under the tile flooring of classrooms and closets in both buildings, Doolin told the Advertiser on Monday.

Removal of the asbestos will add approximately $150,000 to the project, which now totals nearly $2.5 million. Doolin said the extra cost will be covered by the district’s insurance policy, which cost the district only a $1,000 deductible.