Some Wallkill Central School District staff are sharing their concerns with News 12 about construction work over the summer in several buildings, just days before the start of classes.

Staff sent News 12 photos that they say shows the work during demolition, including asbestos abatement, over the last few weeks. Several photos show white dust on desks and chairs, others show blackened air filters in dumpsters.

“My fear is that the students, faculty, staff, and parents who enter the building for the upcoming orientations and opening of school, will not be aware of the toxins in the air as the construction may still be going on when school begins,” says one teacher who spoke with News 12 on the condition of anonymity. “I feel that once the project is complete, the air quality should be tested by the health department and documented before anyone is allowed in the building.”

District officials say “extensive construction work” was performed over the summer at all three of their elementary schools, the John G. Borden Middle School and Wallkill Senior High School, and that professional cleaning, following the completion of work, will be finished before staff and kids return.

A district spokesperson says work at the high school included adding new ceiling tiles and energy efficient LED lighting throughout the building, along with refurbishing locker rooms, several bathrooms, installing a new gym floor, roof work and the installation of a security vestibule at the main entrance. Duct work was installed in preparation of new air conditioning systems in the cafeteria and gymnasium, which is scheduled to be completed next summer. Security vestibules were installed in other district schools and air conditioning systems were installed in the cafeteria and gymnasiums at each elementary school, according to the spokesperson. They say middle school locker rooms were also refurbished, and duct work was installed at the middle school in preparation of adding air conditioning systems in the cafeteria, the gymnasium and auditorium, which is scheduled to be completed next summer.

“All district buildings will be ready for the opening of the school year. The work that is being completed in all district buildings will provide an improved learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. We are very excited for the return of our learning community,” said a district spokesperson.

Staff, however, say the buildings have been occupied during summer school and that the conditions are unsafe.

“Not one employee or member of the school district was offered a mask or any type of safety measure and had to ask for everything including lights to be turned on, air purifiers, hallways cleared, and plastic put up, which was not sealed. Eventually some employees had to ask to be moved to other buildings and continue to be moved as the district has failed to mention the dangers in those buildings as well,” says a teacher.

A district spokesperson didn’t comment on the conditions of the buildings for staff working over the summer but said asbestos abatement is done and air quality tests performed have come back clean.

Staff are scheduled to return Sept. 3 and school begins for students Sept. 4.