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Parents demand answers about asbestos found at Maynard elementary school

MAYNARD, Mass. — The discovery of asbestos forced part of an elementary school to close down, and parents packed a room Thursday, demanding to know if the school was safe for their children.

Parent after parent lined up and confronted school board members after asbestos was found in Green Meadow Elementary School.

Numerous parents shared similar stories at Thursday night's meeting at Fowler Middle School in Maynard, after students started complaining to them about a fear of asbestos after tiles fell from the ceiling at Green Meadow.

"We had to hospitalize him four times because of breathing issues," Brian Sanders said about his son. "He couldn't breathe. His levels were going down, he needed an inhaler every night."

Parents told school board members their kids were starting to get sick.

"Your custodial staff fixed the title issue, and not a licensed professional knowing there was mold and asbestos," one parent said.

A state report found a probability of fungal growth in 10 sample areas, and a high probability in four.

"This needs to end today," one parent said. "We need to close the school down today."

Parents want the school shut down immediately, saying they don't feel comfortable sending their kids to school.

The superintendent said they will look at tuition reimbursement for Pre-K students, while other parents asked the superintendent to resign.

>>RELATED: Asbestos forces part of local elementary school to shut down