Community in uproar after board votes to temporarily close Wiley Elementary for asbestos abatement
Community members stand and turn their backs to the Urbana School Board Feb. 21 during a board member’s comment in support of closing Wiley Elementary School. After the board voted to close the school, the community members immediately left. Mae Antar
The Urbana school board received significant backlash on Feb. 21 after it voted to close Wiley Elementary School this coming summer to fix its asbestos problem.
People gathered en masse dressed in red Wiley attire to speak out against this decision. Many said their piece during the citizens comments section of the evening, which ran for about two hours.
Every single comment asked the board to vote no. Many stayed a total of five hours to wait to hear the board’s vote.
On Feb. 21, the 116 school district board voted on the closure that was proposed just two weeks before. During these past weeks, Wiley community members have gathered to speak against the proposed closure.
After the vote, parents said that they are not done fighting for their school.
“I'm really angry,” said Wiley parent Mabruka Yazidi. “This is not the last that they're going to hear from us, and it's going to get ugly, probably.”
Those speaking out against this decision still want the asbestos taken care of. However, they said they need an exact plan for what will happen to Wiley and its community after renovations are complete.
“We need [the board] to wait. We need a plan. Everybody in that room was on the same page,” said Rob Bennet, another Wiley parent. “For them to tell us, ‘Oh, no. We still don't have a plan, but let's just move forward anyway.’ It's just insulting.”
The initial proposal offered different options for what could happen to the Wiley building after abating the asbestos problem.
Although one implied, none explicitly stated Wiley would reopen.
According to asbestos.com, many old buildings, like Wiley, are built with asbestos, which can pose a health risk if inhaled or ingested. Community members share the board's concerns regarding the well-being of Wiley students and staff.
However, as of Feb. 22, it has not been mentioned that the asbestos is yet airborne.
Tensions rose when it was time for the board to make its vote. In the end, the majority decided the vote was the safety concern for people at Wiley.
Three members voted against the proposal.
“To me, our community has clearly spoken,” said board member Brian Ogolsky. “I did not hear one public comment in support of this proposal. This should be something we're celebrating together, and we're fighting against the public on this. That, in good conscience, is not something that I can support.”