NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal reports on the asbestos concerns that remain as students return to Simon Gratz High School Thursday.
Simon Gratz High School will reopen to students Thursday, March 16, after being closed for a week, Mastery Charter Schools CEO Scott Gordon said.
The auditorium will be closed off to students as issues like water damage are thoroughly investigated. Students who arrive early will gather in the cafeteria until classes start at 8:05 a.m.
Mastery's Simon Gratz High School and Gratz Prep Middle School originally closed for part of the week of March 6 due to an asbestos inspection that uncovered damaged asbestos on Wednesday, March 8 by the School District of Philadelphia, the school announced.
On Friday, March 10 school officials said Gratz Prep Middle School was cleared to reopen on Monday, March 13. All asbestos findings were resolved in that building.
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School officials also mentioned the missed days will not add any school days to the calendar.
Mastery school officials provided virtual learning materials during the closure and had a list of activities for parents and guardians to keep students learning while at home.
While Simon Gratz H.S. campus was closed, Mastery offered four meals to families.
The school district performs the reinspection for asbestos every three years.
Gratz was the second school in Philadelphia that closed due to findings of damaged asbestos.
On Monday, March 6, students from Building 21, a high school in West Oak Lane, were relocated to Strawberry Mansion High School after asbestos was found in the auditorium that was determined to have been there since June 2021.
The school district provided an update saying the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved a request for students from Building 21 to be switched to virtual learning.
